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How Can I KNOW that I am Going to Heaven?
God never intended this question to be difficult or confusing. In fact, God is not the author of confusion and God tells us in His Word how we can know for sure that Heaven is our home.
There have been many down through the years who have caused great confusion concerning the subject of biblical salvation. Ones like Jack Hyles, John R. Rice, Billy Graham, and far too many more to list. They led the charge for many years and still are even today, even after their death. They taught and instructed people to “repeat after me” or what we know to be “The Sinners Prayer.” The problem with that magical prayer is that its not found in the King James Bible. In fact, there is not a hint of that in the King James Bible. How did the Apostle Paul receive Christ on the road to Damascus? How did the Samaritan woman at the well receive Christ? Was it by repeating a prayer? How were the “first Christians” saved in the book of Acts? Did they recite “The Sinner’s Prayer?” And what about the thief hanging on the cross beside Jesus? When did he recite “The Sinner’s Prayer”? There are many others I could have listed as well, but I think you get the picture. You can’t find one person in the Bible asking Jesus into their heart either.
It seems that people have been satisfied for decades with “false professions.” In fact, Jack Hyles taught people to knock on doors and get them saved within 5 minutes. So, are we to give people such a shallow presentation of the Gospel and pronounce them saved so that we can get many people on the membership role? All the while they are actually still headed to Hell.
During the summer of 1985, the Bush family took their annual trip to Maine where Billy Graham was invited to join them by President George H.W. and Barbara Bush. It was there that Billy told President George W. Bush and his family that his grandmother didn’t need to have a “born again” experience to be saved because some people are born saved (“Decision Points” by George W. Bush, page 31). What did Jesus tell Nicodemus? John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Almost everyone I talk to today will tell me that they are going to Heaven one day and yet have never received Christ as Lord and Savior. So, how can you know that you are going to Heaven? What does the Bible say? Does it only say that “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”? Well, let’s read more than that one verse from Romans Chapter 10.
Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.So, we see here that there is a confession, believing, and yes, a calling. But, what does the next verse say?
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
People CANNOT call on Someone Whom they have not believed!!
And yet, in many churches, the only verse they share during an invitation for salvation is Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Oh yes, another DOCTRINE that most churches leave out concerning salvation is the doctrine of REPENTANCE. You may be reading this and have no idea what repentance means. Repentance is you knowing and admitting that you are wrong and God is right!! It is you turning from sin and following the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a change of mind that leads to a change in actions! Okay, so what does the DOCTRINE of REPENTANCE say? It is found in two verses of the Bible which states the same thing, and they are found in Luke Chapter 13.
Luke 13:3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Have you given much thought as to what God has done for YOU?
God loved you so much that He did something about it! He sent His only Begotten Son (Jesus Christ) to die a cruel death on a cross for your sins. In fact, He bore the sins of all mankind on the cross.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
My friend, He loved you and still loves you that much! I thank God that Jesus Christ went to that cross, bore my sins, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:Many believe that they can’t get saved because of all the sin in their life (they are too dirty), but the truth is, the Lord wants you to come to Him just as you are right now so that He can clean you up! If you could clean yourself up, there would have been no reason for the Lord Jesus Christ to leave the glory of Heaven to come to this sin cursed world to offer you the free gift of salvation!
There is a penalty for sin and that penalty is death. Understand, we deserve to go to Hell, but the Lord offers a FREE GIFT!!
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The choice is yours. Will you CHOOSE Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior or will you continue to reject Him? Time is running out for you and one day this life will be over. I pray that you make the right choice and will be in Heaven one day. But again, that choice is yours!
Make no mistake about it, you will NOT enter Heaven apart from Jesus Christ! John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
~DAH