What about Eternity?
Can we KNOW where we will spend eternity?
Yes! Heaven is a place that you can be sure of today. The Bible teaches us how we can have our sins forgiven and live in peace with God because of Jesus Christ: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13​
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So I must ask the question, if you died today do you know where you will spend eternity? If you're not sure, here are a few things to consider!
FIRST, you must acknowledge that you are a sinner.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
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The Bible teaches us that we ALL have a problem... and that problem is sin. Sin is anything we think, say, or do that goes against God and His Word. Have you ever told a lie before? Have you ever taken something that didn't belong to you? Have you ever given something priority over God? Sure you have! When we do, we break God's law.
Then, you must understand the penalty of your sin.
“For the wages of sin is death..” (Romans 6:23)
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The Bible teaches us that because of our sin we will die. This is not just physical death, but Spiritual death separated from God in a place called hell.
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“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
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"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:13-15
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Just like society's lawbreakers are sentenced to punishment, so are those that break God's law. Unfortunately, that penalty is eternity in Hell.
Now for the good news: Christ died to pay your penalty.
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;” (1 Corinthians 15:3)
Jesus Christ paid the entire price for your sins on the cross.
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In order to fulfill God's requirements of perfection, Jesus Christ left heaven, became a man, lived a sinless, perfect, life and gave Himself as your sacrifice for sin. He paid the price that you and I could not. And offers salvation to anyone who would accept Him as their personal Savior.
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Romans 3:25-26 - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
REALIZE that you can have eternal life.
“...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b)
The gift of eternal life is freely offered to you. He paid the price, so you wouldn't have to. God will not accept any other method of payment for your sin other than the shed blood of Jesus Christ. You can not work for your salvation, you can not buy your salvation, and you certainly can not earn it. Only Jesus can forgive your sin, and cleanse you from unrighteousness.
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“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10
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For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
CALL Upon the Lord to save you.
"For Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
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Whosoever means YOU. If you, by simple faith trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your salvation, you can be 100% sure that you are going to Heaven. Church membership, confirmation, baptism, or even communion, will not save you. The only thing that we need for salvation is to believe in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as a payment for OUR sin, and to call upon Him to save us. His sacrifice is completely sufficient.
Understand that the prayer or the words don't save you. It's the belief and understanding that Christ's death is enough to save you.
"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." (Romans 10:9)
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An example prayer would be "Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I understand that my sin carries a penalty: that penalty is death. But I believe that you died for my sins, you were buried and that you rose again from the grave. I understand that you are the only way to Heaven. Please forgive me of my sin and save me. I accept your free gift of salvation. Amen.