|
Would
you really like to know how to get to heaven?
A few years ago railroads and airlines printed what were called
"time tables." They all laid claim to the better route to your destination.
They went so far as to print their line in big boxcar type, while
their competitor's line was put in the smallest type. The different
denominations and churches all have their peculiar route to heaven.
The various sects and isms claim to have a monopoly on the only
way to a blessed eternity.
Which
way shall we go?
Certainly all of us want to go to heaven. Most assuredly
we want to take the proper route.
Which
is it?
Instead of listening to this babble of voices all about us,
why not listen to God? Here is what He says in the Bible.
This
is the inside story on God's way to heaven. It is the gospel according
to the Author:
God
tells the truth about mankind:
-
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans
3:10)
- "For
there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and does not
sin." (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
- "For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans
3:23)
- "…For
there is no man that sins not…." (1 Kings 8:46)
- "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
says that He must punish sin:
- "Behold,
all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul
of the son is Mine: the soul that sins, it shall die." (Ezekiel
18:4)
- "For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
God
tells the inside story about His remedy for sin:
- "Come
now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be
red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
-
"God commends [demonstrates] His love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
- "Who
His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
you were healed." (l Peter 2:24)
- "He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes
we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
- "Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)
- "For
by grace are you 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)
God
wants to save you and will save you if you will follow His instructions:
- "He
who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who believes
not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on
him." (John 3:36)
- "And
they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be
saved, and your household." (Acts 16:31)
- "To
Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whoever
believes in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
-
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life." (John 3:16)
- "And
many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples,
which are not written in this book: but these are written, that
you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing you might have life through His name." (John 20:30,
31)
God
definitely declares that there is only one way to be saved:
-
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6)
- "Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
-
"Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes
in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever lives
and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John
11:25, 26)
- "For
there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus." (l Timothy 2:5)
The
eternal Son of God Jesus Christ extends to you a personal invitation:
- "All
that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and he that comes to
Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37)
1st
John 5:10-13:-
- 10.
"He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself;
he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has
not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
- 11.
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son.
- 12.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God
does not have life.
- 13.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of
the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,
and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of
God."
SALVATION:
Salvation is the gift of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
You cannot do anything to earn salvation - you must receive it as
a gift. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20, 4:4-5)
The only way of receiving salvation is by trusting that Jesus Christ
died for your sins, was buried and was raised from the dead. He
therefore paid the penalty for our sin, and conquered death. (Acts
16:30-31, John 3:16, 14:6, 1st Corinthians 15:3-4)
When you believe in Jesus Christ, God saves you forever. You cannot
lose your salvation. (Romans 8:38-38, John 10:28-29)
You are saved so that you can serve God. (Ephesians 2:8-10) This
involves surrendering your life fully to Him, and being willing
to do anything that He desires of you. (Romans 12:1-2)
Now
it is up to you.!! You have the inside story. This is the only way
to Heaven. But what are you going to do about it? Won't you trust
the unchangeable Word of God and live?
|
 |
|