Here’s how you can Know For
Sure...
Heaven (Eternal Life) is a Free Gift
- The Bible Says
- "...the GIFT of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b)
- And because heaven is a gift like no other gift...
- It is Not Earned or Deserved
- Therefore, no amount of personal effort, good works or religious
deeds can earn a place in heaven for you.
- "By grace you have been saved through faith,
and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of God, NOT OF WORKS
lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- WHY is it that no one can earn their way to heaven? Because...
- Man is a Sinner
- Sin is transgressing
God’s law and includes such things as lying, lust, cheating,
deceit, anger, evil thoughts, immoral behavior and much more.
- "All have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God" (Romans 3:23)
- And because of this...
- Man Cannot Save Himself
- If you wanted to save yourself by good deeds, do you know how
good you would have to be?
- The Bible says that you would have to be perfect.
- "Therefore you shall be perfect just as your
Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
- With such a high standard, no one can save themselves for God
also says,
- "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)
- In spite of our sin, however...
- God is Merciful and Therefore Doesn’t
Want to Punish Us
- This is because...
- "God is love...(1 John 4:8b)
- And He says...
- "I have loved you with an everlasting love."
(Jeremiah 31:3b)
- But the same Bible that tells us that God loves us also tells us
that...
- God is Just and Therefore Must Punish Sin
- He says...
- "... I will by no means clear the guilty..."
(Exodus 34:7b)
- quot;The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel
18:4)
- We have a problem; we have ALL sinned.
The penalty for sin is death. We need forgiveness so that we can have a
right relationship with God.
- God solved this problem for us in the person of...
- Jesus Christ
- Who exactly would you say Jesus Christ is?
- The Bible tells us clearly that He is the infinite GOD-MAN
- "In the beginning was the
Word (Jesus)...and the Word (Jesus) was God...and the Word (Jesus)
became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1, 14)
- Jesus Christ came to earth and lived a sinless life, but while on
earth...
- What Did He Do?
- He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose
from the grave to purchase a place for us in heaven.
- "All we like sheep have
gone astray, we have turned every one, to his own way; and the Lord has
laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all," (Isaiah 53:6)
- God hates our sins but
because of His love for us, He has placed them all on His Son. Christ
bore our sin in His body on the cross
- Now Jesus Christ offers you eternal life (heaven) as a free gift.
- This gift is received by...
- Faith
- Faith is the key that opens the door to heaven. Many people
mistake two things for saving faith:
Mere INTELLECTUAL ASSENT, that is
believing certain historical facts. The Bible says that the devil
believes in God. So merely believing in God is not saving faith. Mere TEMPORAL FAITH, that is trusting God for temporary crises
such as financial, family or physical needs.
Now these are good, and you should trust Christ for these, but
they are not saving faith!
- Saving Faith
- Saving faith is trusting
in Jesus Christ and Him ALONE for salvation. It means resting upon
Christ alone and what He has done rather than upon what you or I have
done to get us into heaven.
- "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you
will be saved..." (Acts 16:31a)
- Faith is like the hand
of a beggar receiving the gift of a King. We don’t deserve the
gift of eternal life. But we can have it, if we will receive it by
faith.
- You have just read the greatest story ever
told, about the greatest offer ever made by the greatest Person who
ever lived - Jesus Christ.
The question that God is asking you now is...
Would You Like to Receive the Gift
of Eternal Life?
Because this is such and important matter, let’s
clarify just what this involves.
- It means, first of all, that you TRANSFER YOUR TRUST from what
you have been doing to what Christ has done for you on the cross.
- It means, next, that you RECEIVE THE RESURRECTED, LIVING CHRIST
into your life as SAVIOR
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
- It means further that you RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE AS LORD.
He comes as Master and King. There is a throne room in your heart, and
that throne is rightly His. He made you. He bought you and He wants to
take His rightful place on the throne of your life.
- It means, finally, that you REPENT OF YOUR
SINS. That means that you are willing to turn from anything you have
been doing that is not pleasing to Him and to follow Him as He reveals
His will to you in His Word.
- Now if this is what you really want...
You Can go to God in Prayer
Right where you are. You can receive His gift of
eternal life through Jesus Christ right now.
"... with the heart one believes
to righteousness and with the mouth confession is made for
salvation...for whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved." (Romans 10:10, 13)
If you want to receive the gift of eternal life through
Jesus Christ, then call on Him, asking Him for this gift right now.
Here’s a Suggested Prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I know I am a sinner and do not
deserve eternal life. But I believe You died and rose from the grave to
purchase a place in heaven for me. Lord Jesus, come into my life; take
control of my life; forgive my sins and save me. I repent of my sins
and now place my trust in You for my salvation. I accept the free gift
of eternal life"
If this prayer is the SINCERE desire of your heart,
look at what Jesus promises to those who believe in Him.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he
who believes in Me has everlasting life." (John 6:47)
Welcome to God’s Family
If you have truly repented (forsaken, turned away) from
your sins, placed your trust in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death
and received the gift of eternal life, you are now a child of God!
Forever! Welcome to the Family of God!
"But as many as received Him, to
them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who
believe in His name." (John 1:12)
Today is Your Spiritual Birthday
A day that you will always want to remember.
"Who were born,
not of blood, nor of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
(John 1:13
When you were physically born, the day of your birth
was attested by a birth certificate. And so today, to help you recall
what God has done in your life on this important day, we would invite
you to copy, sign and keep the following paragraph...
SPIRITUAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE
- "For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
- Knowing that I have sinned and that I need the
Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I now turn from my sins and trust Jesus
for my eternal life. I ask Jesus Christ to forgive me and to deliver me
from sin’s power and give me eternal life.
- I now give Jesus Christ control of my life.
- From this time forward, as He gives me strength, I will seek to
serve Him and obey Him in all areas of my life.
- Date: ______________________
- Signature: ______________________________________
What Next?
Just as a newborn baby grows physically, so you will
grow spiritually by taking the following steps:
- Read at least one chapter of the Book of John in the Bible each day.
- "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of
the Word of God, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2)
- Spend time each day in Prayer
conversing with God.
- "Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let
your requests be made know to God..." (Philippians 4:6)
- Worship regularly in a church that
teaches you the Bible and honors Jesus Christ.
- "I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let
us go into the house of the Lord'" (Psalm 122:1)
- "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship Him in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
- Fellowship with Christians who will
help you to grow in faith.
- "Those who gladly received
His word... continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers." (Acts 2:41-42)
- Be a Witness by telling others what
Jesus Christ means to you!
- Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever confesses
Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in
heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before
My Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)
Remember to attend regularly a Bible-teaching Church where Jesus Christ is honored. Confess your
faith in Christ to them and join it.
"Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some..." (Hebrews 10:25)
If you have appreciated and accepted this Good News
you have just read, please let us know. We would like to rejoice in
what God has done in your life and help you grow spiritually. _______________________________________________________________________________
All Scripture quoted is from the New King James Version,
Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Much of the message above is copyrighted by Evangelism Explosion
III International 1989, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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