If you were to die today, do you know if you would go to heaven? Why would God let you in?

There are many ways people have answered that question - “I hope so”, “I try to be good enough and do what’s right”, “God let’s everyone in, doesn’t He?”, “I don’t believe in heaven or God, so it doesn’t matter.” 

However, the Bible tells us there is only one way. 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. This verse clearly states that it is only through Jesus that we can come to the Father. But what does that mean? 

Let’s look in the Bible to find out why we need a Savior - and who that Savior is!

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Earlier in the chapter, Romans 3:10-18 tells us just how sinful all people are. In those Bible verses, we find out that we are totally without any good at all. Our sin has caused a separation between us and God. We all have sinned, and cannot measure up to God’s standard of holiness. 

Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…” That’s the bad news: God said in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3 that the result of mankind’s rebellion would be death. And we still see today how this curse affects the world around us. Because we all have sinned, we all are destined to die. Sin is not just “doing bad things” - it’s doing anything that fails to meet God’s standards. And the Bible says if we die in our sin, we will spend eternity separated from the presence of God in eternal torment. (Matthew 25:46) This is justice - God is the judge, and He has every right to punish sin. 

But there’s good news! The rest of Romans 6:23 says “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” How do we get this free gift? 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love for us is so great that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus took the penalty of death in our place. And the best news is - He rose again from the grave on the third day, just as He said He would. He conquered both sin and death! And when we believe in Him to save us, He will! Romans 10:13: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

Eternal Life is not done by works (Titus 3:5) or by trying to be good enough - we can’t match God's standards. But we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s that simple!

If you have taken this step of faith, then you can rejoice to know that God has forgiven you of your sin and the penalty has been paid in full. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Justified means we have been declared righteous. This is the precious gift of God that He offers us - Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  

If you have made this decision today, or want help in making this decision, I would love to talk to you today! Send me an email or call the church office, and I would love to talk to you more.