MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

Has anyone ever taken a Bible and shown you how you can KNOW for sure you are going to heaven?

The Bible contains both BAD NEWS and GOOD NEWS
The Bad News is something about YOU!
The Good News is something about GOD!
Let’s look at the Bad News first…

BAD NEWS #1: You are a sinner.

Romans 3:23closeRomans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) closeRomans 3:23closeRomans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV) says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
“Sinned” means that we have missed the mark. When we lie, hate, lust, or gossip, we have missed the standard God has set. When the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short,” it means that we have all come short of God’s standard of perfection. In thoughts, words, and deeds, we have not been perfect.

But the Bad News gets worse…

BAD NEWS #2: The Penalty for sin is death.

Romans 6:23closeRomans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) closeRomans 6:23closeRomans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV) says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Suppose you worked for me and I paid you $50. That $50 was your wages. That’s what you earned. The Bible says that by sinning we have earned death. That means we deserve to die and be separated from God forever.

BUT… since there was no way we could come to God, God came to us!

GOOD NEWS #1: Christ died for you!

Romans 5:8closeRomans 5:8 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) closeRomans 5:8closeRomans 5:8 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) says “But God demonstrated Hisown love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Why would God do this for us? He SO loves us. John 3:16closeJohn 3:16 For God So Loved the World 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. (ESV) closeJohn 3:16closeJohn 3:16 For God So Loved the World 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. (ESV) For God So Loved the World 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. (ESV) says “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” The Bible says that Christ took the penalty that we deserved for sin, placed it upon Himself and died in our place. He did this on the cross. Three days later Christ came back to life to prove that sin and death had been conquered and that His claims to be God were true.

Just as the Bad News got worse the Good News gets better!

GOOD NEWS #2: You can be saved through faith in Christ!

Ephesians 2:8-9closeEphesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV) closeEphesians 2:8-9closeEphesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV) says “For it is by grace (undeserved favor) you have been saved (delivered from sin’s penalty), through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast”. Acts 16:31closeActs 16:31 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (ESV) closeActs 16:31closeActs 16:31 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (ESV) 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (ESV) says “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” Faith means trust.

What must you trust Christ for?

You must depend on Him alone to forgive you and to give you eternal life.
You must trust Jesus Christ to get you to heaven through no effort of your own.
But you may say, “I am religious.” “I go to church.” “I am a good person.” “I help others.” These are all good, but good living, going to church, helping others, and any other good thing, cannot get you to heaven.

Nothing you or I can do will get rid of our sin.

Titus 3:5closeTitus 3:5 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, (ESV) closeTitus 3:5closeTitus 3:5 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, (ESV) 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, (ESV) a says “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy.” In John 14:6closeJohn 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV) closeJohn 14:6closeJohn 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (ESV) Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

What is it that we need to do to be saved?

Believe! You must trust in Jesus Christ alone, and God will give you eternal life as a gift!
John 5:24closeJohn 5:24 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV) closeJohn 5:24closeJohn 5:24 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV) 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV) says “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

Does this make sense to you?

Is there anything keeping you from trusting Jesus Christ right now?

Think carefully.

There is nothing more important than your need to trust Jesus Christ.

Would you like to tell God you are trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior?

If you would, why not pray right now and tell God you are trusting His Son Jesus Christ?
Remember! It is not a prayer that saves you. It is trusting Jesus Christ that saves you. Prayer is simply how you tell God what you are doing.

SALVATION PRAYER

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I know my sin deserves to be punished.
I believe Jesus Christ died for me on the cross and rose from the grave.
I trust Jesus alone as my Savior. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sin,
and everlasting life I now have. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

What has just happened?

John 5:24closeJohn 5:24 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV) closeJohn 5:24closeJohn 5:24 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV) 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (ESV) says “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

Did you “hear” God’s Word?
Did you “believe” what God said and trust Christ as your Savior?
Does “has eternal life” mean later or right now?
Does it say “will not be condemned” or might not?
Does it say “has crossed over from death” or may pass?

What do I do now?

Having trusted Jesus as your only way to heaven, here’s how to grow in your relationship with Him:

PRAY - Tell God what is on your mind through prayer (Philippians 4:6, 7closePhilippians 4:6 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:7 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV) closePhilippians 4:6closePhilippians 4:6 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (ESV) 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:7closePhilippians 4:7 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV) )
READ THE BIBLE every day. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17close2 Timothy 3:16 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:17 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV) close2 Timothy 3:16close2 Timothy 3:16 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:17close2 Timothy 3:17 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV) 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV) )
WORSHIP with God’s people in a local church. (Hebrews 10:24, 25closeHebrews 10:24 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, Hebrews 10:25 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV) closeHebrews 10:24closeHebrews 10:24 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, Hebrews 10:25closeHebrews 10:25 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV) 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV) )
TELL OTHERS about Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:19closeMatthew 4:19 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (ESV) closeMatthew 4:19closeMatthew 4:19 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (ESV) 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (ESV) )

Salvation