By Jeff Dominguez
This is the most important question of all.
All of us wants to go heaven. However, not all of us know how. Many people assume that they’re going to heaven simply because they are good persons or they have done a lot of good works. On the other side, many people are confused because of the varying teachings of the different religions in the world.
So how do we truly get to heaven?
The true answer can be found in God’s words, the Holy Bible. And what does the Bible teach? Before we reveal the answer, let’s listen first to the reason why we can’t enter heaven: SIN.
The Bad News: SIN
There’s a reason why we have been separated from God; SIN. The Bible describes sin as an act of defiance or rebellion against God. Whenever we do something that is against the commands or will of God, we are sinning against Him. The prime example of this was Adam and Eve. God commanded them to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for if they do, they will surely die (Genesis 2:17). And as we all know, they disobeyed God that resulted to their banishment from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23-24).
The fall of Adam and Eve is the reason why all of us are under the power of sin. We inherited Adam’s sinful nature that causes us to sin helplessly. As the Apostle Paul explained,
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
Romans 5:12
ALL SINNED.
This is what the Bible is trying to make us realize. We are all sinners before God.
“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.“
Romans 3:10-12
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
And here’s the worst part – there’s a punishment for our sins: DEATH.
“For the wages of sin is death…”
Romans 6:23a
This is the problem: we are all under the power of sin. The Bible is clear that the only accepted payment for sin is death. Therefore, we can never pay for the penalty of our sins by being good persons, doing good works, joining a particular religion, or any man-invented ways of atonement (purgatory, religious acts, etc.). Again, death is the only payment for sin.
The Good News: JESUS CHRIST
But don’t worry! there is hope! Because of God’s love, grace, and mercy, He has given us a way to be saved so that we can be with Him in heaven for eternity. So what is this hope? What is this way?
It’s not what, it’s who. It is our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST!!
Jesus is the Savior that God sent to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). He is God who became human and made His dwelling among us (John 1:1, 14).
As the Bible revealed, the only accepted payment for sin is death. This is exactly what Jesus did. He took the penalty of our sins and died on the cross for us. But on the third day, He rose from the grave to prove that He has conquered sin and death and the promise of eternal life is true (John 3:36/1 John 5:11-13).
So what do we need to do to be saved?
Since it was Jesus who sacrificed His life and died for us, God simply wants us to have faith in Him. That’s it! The only thing we need to do to be saved is to BELIEVE IN JESUS!!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
“And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:29-31
The Bible also reveals that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. There’s no other way.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“
John 14:6
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
So again, the only way to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s never by doing good works (Titus 3:5), being a good person (because we’re all sinners), church membership, or any man-invented ways of atonement. God has already sent us a Savior and all He wants us to do is to trust Him.
This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are hoping that God has spoken to your heart through this article and you have realized your need for a Savior. We are praying that you accept this invitation to repent of your sins and place your hope in Jesus Christ as your only Lord and Savior.
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” – Jesus
John 10:9 NIV
God bless!! 🙂
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