A Couple of Quick Questions
Do you know for certain that if you were to die right now you would go to heaven?
Suppose you did die right now and found yourself standing before God Almighty and He would ask you, "WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO MY HEAVEN?"
What would you say?
Which one of the following best describes what you are trusting in to get to heaven?
a) WORKS
b) CHRIST + WORKS
c) CHRIST
God in His Holy Bible tells us we can know we have eternal life.
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, (Jesus Christ) that you may know that you have eternal life," 1 John 5:13
In order to be saved we must know and believe the gospel message.
"[God]... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes," Romans 1:16
There are several things you need to know in order to be saved.
"There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." Romans 3:10-12
Because of our sin no one is qualified for heaven.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
Sin separates man from God.
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you," Isaiah 59:2
The penalty for sin is death.
"For the wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23
The word DEATH means separation. When a person dies their soul is separated from their body. If we die in our sin we will be separated from God forever in HELL.
"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15
Not only are we sinners - But we also have another problem: We cannot save ourselves.
"But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;" Isaiah 64:6
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Man tries to solve his sin problem.
Man tries . . .
- Church membership
- Baptism
- Sacraments
- Good works
- Ten Commandments
- Religion
- Philosophy
- Morality
But God says . . .
All are like filthy rags . . .
not by works . . .
all come short ! ! !
In order to be saved you must also know about the person of Christ.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," John 1:14
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;" Colossians 2:9
To be saved you must know the gospel - God's "Good News."
3) God's solution to our sin problem - the work of Christ.
The good news is that Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
Man is responsible for sin, but totally unable to save himself. Only God can save. (cf Isaiah. 43:11) Therefore God himself became a Man in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ to pay for sin. (cf. Hebrews 2:9-18)
The word gospel means "Good News". It is the message of what Christ has done to provide our salvation.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
Christ's blood sacrifice was a one time payment for all of sin.
"All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice forever . . . For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:12,14.
Now let me explain how a person receives God's forviness
4) We receive Christ by saving faith alone!
"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness," Romans 4:5
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1
We are saved by faith alone, but it must be the right kind of faith.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven." Matthew 7:21
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!" James 2:19
Real saving faith involves repentance of sin. Repentance is changing your mind about sin and about Christ.
"and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations," Luke 24:47
" . . . repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance." Acts 26:20
"The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
Real saving faith believes on Christ as personal Lord.
"And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.' . . . these are written that you may believe . . . "
John 20:28-31
LORD MEANS GOD/MASTER. YOU MUST RECOGNIZE CHRIST AS YOU MASTER/BOSS. IT MUST BE PERSONAL: "MY LORD". Real saving faith depends on Christ ALONE as savior.
"For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:2-4
"and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things . . . " Acts 13:39
Real saving faith is from the heart.
"But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." Luke 8:15
"For with the heart one believes unto righteousness," Romans 10:10
Real saving faith produces fruit (evidence) in the life.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor theives, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."
1 John 2:3
Does all this make sense to you? Would you by faith like to receive Christ and His free gift of eternal life right now?
Are you willing to turn from your sin and place all of your faith in Christ alone as personal Lord and Savior?
Receiving Christ by faith
1) Admit you are a sinner and repent (turn from) your sin.
2) From your heart believe on Jesus Christ as your personal Lord (God/Master) and Savior. As Savior He died for all your sins. As Lord over all He rose from the dead on the third day.
3) Realize that eternal life is a free gift and that your good works or self-efforts cannot save you.
GOD'S PROMISE
"whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
SUGGESTED PRAYER
Dear God,
I admit I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. I believe in Jesus Christ as MY GOD who died on the cross for all my sins and rose again. I ask you to forgive all my sins and to change me into the person you want me to be. I turn from my sin to follow you. Thank you for saving me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Now if you were asked, "How do you know that you are going to heaven?" What would you say? God's words of assurance to you.
"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life," 1 John 5:11-13
Where to go from here?
1) Be baptized as a public testimony of your faith (Acts 10:43-48).
2) Have a Daily Quiet Time! read your Bible to grow spiritually (1 Peter 2.2). Talk to God in prayer asking Him for help in your walk (Hebrews 4:16).
3) Go to a BIBLE-TEACHING church (Hebrews 10:25).
4) Share the gospel (Matthew 28:19).
5) Obey the Word of God. Live for God and other, not yourself (Romans 12:1-2)
SOUTHVIEW BIBLE CHURCH
- Proclaiming the Gospel of God's grace.
- Systematically teaching God's Word.
- Rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
- Teaching the whole counsel of God.
- Emphasizing the inspiration of God's Word and its authority and all-sufficiency in all matters of faith and practice.