Rolling Fork Baptist Church
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Reaching out, bringing in, and lifting up!

How To Get To Heaven

 

Here is a Bible verse that you have heard and seen over and over again but it has the answer to the question, 'How can I go to heaven?'  The answer to that question is answered when we see what God did and what we must do in order to go to heaven.

 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 (NIV)

WHAT DID GOD DO?

There are four key words in this verse to help you go to heaven...

 16 "For God so loved the world...

The first of the four special words is 'loved'.  God loved.  God loved the word so He did something.  God loved you and me even before we were born and so He took the next step which is found in the next special word...

 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,...

God loved the world so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to us that we could spend all of etertnity with Him in heaven.  We didn't deserve it and we can't earn it.  God GAVE us Jesus!

WHAT MUST WE DO?

 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him...  

We must believe IN God, not just believe that God exists.  The original words used for 'believe in' meant to 'put all of your trust in'.  Do you believe that God loved the world enough to give us Jesus Christ?  If so, then here is the fourth special word...

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)

It's that simple.  If we believe in God, that He gave us Jesus Christ who died for our sins, and that God raised Jesus from the dead to sit beside Him in heaven, then we can have eternal life which means eternity in heaven with God and Jesus.

God loved.  God gave.  We believe.  We have.

God loved the world.  God gave us Jesus.  We believe in God.  We have eternal life.

DO YOU BELIEVE?  THEN TELL GOD THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM. 

 
                                                                                                    

The A-B-C's .

A is for 'admit'-  You need to admit that you have done some wrong things in your life and ask God to forgive you for any and all wrong that you have done.  The Bible calls our wrongs 'sin'.  Romans 3:23 says 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' (HCSB)

B is for 'believe'-  You need to believe that Jesus is God's Son who was sent to die for you and for me.  You must also believe that God raised Jesus up from the grave just as He promised that He would.  John 3:16 says 'For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' (TLB)

C is for 'confess'-  Finally, you must confess that Jesus is Lord by asking Him to be your new Leader of your life and the Forgiver of your sins.  This is often called our 'Lord and Savior'.  Romans 10:9-10 says 'if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.' (HCSB)

How to use the A-B-C's

So, is there any reason why you would not want to ask Jesus to forgive you and become your new Leader?  If there is no reason, then use the following prayer as a guide and ask Jesus to come into your life.

'Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned and I need Your forgiveness.  I believe that You are God's Son and that You died to pay the price for my sins.  Please forgive me and come into my life so that I can have a fresh start in my life.  I now confess You as my Lord and my Savior.  From this day forward, teach me how to live a life that pleases You.  Thank You for loving me and for saving me from hell.  In Your name I pray, Amen.'

'What's next?'

If you just prayed that prayer, let me be the first to welcome you in God's family!  Congratulations, you just made the best decision you will ever make. Also, let me encourage you to follow up with that commitment that you prayed by telling someone who is a Christian and let that person help you begin this new way of life.   As a sign to others concerning your new faith in God, follow Jesus' example and be baptized.  Obviously, we invite to our church but you need to ask God where He would have you attend church.  Allow your new church family to encourage you and support you as you learn more about Jesus.