Have you ever wondered what will happen when you die? Have you ever wondered if you would go to heaven? The Bible has the answer to that question. In the book of 1 John, God says: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13)
But, this raises the question, what is eternal life? The Bible also answers that question. Romans 6:23 tells us that eternal life is a free gift from God.
"...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23b) The Bible also tells us that eternal life is a relationship with God.
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)
Who Is God? But, who is God? According to the Bible, God is our Creator. That means that He has the right and authority to make the rules by which we live.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)
The Bible also tells us that God is both loving and gracious. He wants to do good things for us.
"For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 100:5). But, God is not only loving and gracious. He is also Holy and Just. That means that He cannot accept evil or wrong. He must judge it and punish it.
"Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor." (Habakkuk 1:13a) "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
This means that we have a problem, because the Bible is also very clear about who man is.
Who Is Man? First of all, man is a sinner. At the most basic level this means that we have rejected God and His rules and tried to do things our own way. We have suppressed His truth, failed to honor Him as God, and chosen to worship other things in His place (Romans 1:18-32).
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
The second truth about man that the Bible teaches is that He will be judged and as a sinner will be sent to Hell, a place of eternal punishment and separation from God.
"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
The third truth about man that the Bible teaches is that he is completely unable to save himself.
"...because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) So, how do we get out of this situation? How can we have a relationship with a Holy and Just God, who cannot tolerate evil or sin, when we are sinners? The answer is found in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches three things about Jesus Christ that you must know if you want to have eternal life.
Who Is Jesus Christ? Jesus is God.
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9)
Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, satisfying God’s justice, by His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Jesus is the only way to God.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) I hope these truths from the Bible have convinced you that God created you and loves you, but that you have a problem because of your sin. I hope that they have convinced you that Jesus has paid the penalty for your sin, satisfying God’s justice, allowing God to offer you salvation as a free gift. The decision is up to you. Do you want God’s gift of eternal life? If you do, the Bible makes it very clear what you must do.
What must I do to be saved? First, recognize that salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23). Second, repent of your sin and turn to God. This means that you have to agree with your heart, mind and will that you have sinned, ask God for forgiveness and submit to the authority of your Creator and God.
"Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38). "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31) Third, call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior in faith, believing that God has raised Him from the dead and offers forgiveness through Him.
"...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for 'WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED'." (Romans 10:9-13). You can do these three things by praying (talking to God) and simply telling Him that you are a sinner and that you want to receive the gift of eternal life He offers through Jesus Christ. If you have honestly made this decision the Bible says that you have eternal life (1 John 5:11-12); forgiveness of sins (Psalm 103:12) and have been declared both “not guilty” and “perfect” by God (2 Corinthians 5:21). If you have made this decision, I urge you to contact me so that I can help you find a church and you can begin your new life as God’s child.
If you would like more information about becoming a Christian, please contact us here
Heritage Valley Bible Church - 461 Central Ave., Fillmore CA, 93015 - Phone: (805) 524-5494
