WILL I GO TO HEAVEN?

The Bible says that no one has to be surprised. We can know for certain, right now, whether or not we will go to Heaven. The Apostle John wrote the following verse to encourage his readers that they could be sure of their eternal destiny: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know for sure that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13, the Bible

Who Goes to Heaven?
The Bible says the door to Heaven is open to all people who accept and respond to these facts:

FACT 1: God loves you and wants you to go to Heaven

The Bible says that God created us, loves us and wants a personal relationship with us. He wants everyone to know Him in this life, and to spend eternity with Him in the next. Jesus said this to His first followers:
“There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” – John 14:2-3, the Bible

When He talks of His Father’s home, Jesus is speaking of Heaven. You can learn more in the Bible about this fact in John 3:16, Ephesians 2:10 and John 1:12.

FACT 2: All of us have offended God

However, according to the Bible, all of us have offended God by our wrong actions and attitudes. We have failed to consistently live up to the standards we know are right. Our wrong actions have separated us from God, shattering the relationship He desires to have with us. The Bible calls these wrong actions sin.

“For all have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
– Romans 3:23, the Bible

FACT 3: No One is Good Enough to Go to Heaven

We cannot repair our relationship with God by doing good deeds, giving to charity, or trying to obey the 10 Commandments. The good we do is good, but it does not erase our moral failures. Our sin still separates us from God.

“For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what His law commands. For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.”
—Romans 3:20, The Bible

A helpful analogy is this: When we stand before a judge, he does not ask us what laws we have obeyed, but if we have broken a law. In God’s eyes we are lawbreakers because we have not lived the life He intended. Some have lived better lives than others, but all have fallen short of the perfect standard set by God and modeled by His Son Jesus.

Jesus, who lived on the earth as God’s Son in a human body, never sinned.

“Christians ... believe the life of Jesus matters because, as God in human form, He lived a perfect life and gave us the best picture of how life ought to be lived. This is important because, without something to compare ourselves to, we have no idea whether our lives are being lived the way they were meant to be lived. … We tend to look at our many faults and say, ‘That’s just human.’ A man gets drunk, a woman has an affair, a child tortures an animal, a nation goes to war – that’s just the human life. Jesus put a stop to such talk. By exemplifying what we ought to be like, He showed who we were meant to be and how far we miss the mark.” – James White, “A Search for the Spiritual”

FACT 4: The Consequence of Our Sin is Serious

Our separation from God is serious — and eternal. In Romans 6:23 the Bible says that the result of sin is “death.” Those who remain separated from God will spend eternity in the place the Bible calls hell.

FACT 5: God Never Stopped Loving Us

Although our behavior is offensive to God, He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for our wrong actions. The innocent Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be executed by sinful mankind. The result of sin is death, and Jesus willingly took that death upon Himself. He paid the price for our wrong actions so that we can receive God’s forgiveness and eternal life. Because of the work of Jesus, we can have a renewed and personal relationship with God that will never end.

“Christ also suffered when He died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners that He might bring us safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit.” — 1 Peter 3:18, the Bible

God, through Jesus, made a way for us to be brought safely home into a restored relationship with Him. However, we must respond to the work of Jesus.

What should I do?
•Acknowledge to God that your wrong actions have offended Him and will result in eternal separation from Him.
•Ask for His forgiveness. He promises to give it fully and completely (1 John 1:9).
•Believe that Jesus is God’s Son, and that He died and rose again to give you eternal life.
•Ask God to be the new leader of your life.

Once we ask God for His forgiveness and leadership, we can be sure that we have eternal life, starting right now. You immediately become His spiritual child, a member of His family. God’s Spirit lives within you to help you follow Him.

What Now?
Children need nutrition, parents and teachers to help them grow physically and socially. In the same way, spiritual children need assistance in growing. God enthusiastically wants to help us grow. Here are some “spiritual vitamins” He has given us:

The Bible. This is a love-letter from God. He has given it to us to address all of the issues we face in life. God has given it to us for our comfort, encouragement and training. Begin reading the Bible in the book of Luke or John.

Prayer. Prayer is talking to God. You can do it silently or aloud, alone or with others. God wants to hear from you.

Other Christ-followers. The Christian life was not meant to be lived alone. There are no spiritual “Rambos” or “Lone Rangers.” If you are beginning a relationship with God, you need the encouragement and support of others who are following Him.

At Lee’s Summit Community Church, we desire to help you begin a relationship with Christ and to grow in it. Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

Common Questions
How can I find God?
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Am I good enough for God?
Will I go to Heaven?
Why should I believe in God?
Who was Jesus?
What about Christians who are hypocrites?
What makes Christianity so special? What about other religions?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why should I trust the Bible?
Do faith and science conflict?