What do you think it takes for a person to go to heaven? The Bible answers that question with one word, "FAITH." The letters in that word help explain how we can have eternal life:
F is for FORGIVENESS:
- The Bible says we cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness.
- The Bible says,
"In him (meaning Jesus) we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins."
-Ephesians 1:7a
A is for AVAILABLE:
- Forgiveness is available.
- And it is available for all. Jesus said,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son,
that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
- John 3:16
-BUT, it is not automatic. Jesus said,
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!'
shall enter the kingdom of heaven."
-Matthew 7:21
-Why is forgiveness not automatic? Because...
I is for IMPOSSIBLE:
-It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.
-The Bible says God is love. (See John 3:16 above.)
-But the Bible also says that God is just.
-And the Bible teaches,
"For judgment is without mercy."
- James 2:13a
AND
-Man is sinful.
-The Bible says,
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- Romans 3:23
So how can a sinful person enter heaver, where God allows no sin?
T is for TURN:
In the Bible, "turn" means to repent.
We must turn from something, and that something is sin and self.
-Jesus said,
"But unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
- Luke 13:3b
-And turn to someone: Jesus. That means trusting Christ only.
The Bible tells us that,
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried,
and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."
-1 Corinthians 15:3b-4
The Bible also says that,
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus
and believe in your heart that
God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Romans 10:9
As we turn from our sin and self and trust Christ only, that leads us to H...
H is for HEAVEN:
-Heaven is eternal life.
-Eternal life is here, today.
-Jesus said,
"I have come that they may have life,
and they may have it more abundantly."
- John 10:10
-Eternal life is hereafter.
-Jesus promised,
"And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you unto myself,
so that where I am, there you may be also."
-John 14:3
This is the Good News! We can have salvation from our sins, a personal relationship with Christ, and eternal life.
