If God were to ask you, “ Why should I let you into my heaven,” what would you say? Some of the answers people typically give to that question are:  “Because I  believe in you, God.”  “Because I’m basically a good person.”  “Because I’ve always gone to church.”  “Because you let everybody in don’t you?” And although those answers might seem reasonable to many people, according to the Bible, they are WRONG! Here’s why those responses cannot guarantee us eternal life with God: Simple Belief in God isn’t enough because even the demons believe in God, and they certainly won’t go to heaven! “You believe that there is one God. Good!  Even the demons believe that - and shudder.”                                                                     James 2:19 (NIV) Being Good won’t get us to heaven because no one could ever be good enough!  The Bible says that all people are sinners and God’s punishment for any sin is “death” or “eternal separation” from him. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...”                                                                    Romans 3:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death...”                                                                 Romans 6:23a  (NIV) Church Attendance is no guarantee of salvation since many people “practice  religion” without a real, heart-changing faith.  Participation in church activities and rituals is meaningless unless it is done as a genuine response to a real relationship with Jesus. “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”                                                                 Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV) Believing that Everybody Goes to heaven won’t get you there because God clearly says that there are many who will not go! “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”                                                                 Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power...”                                                       II Thessalonians 1:8-9  (NIV) So how can we know for sure that we have eternal life and the guarantee of heaven? It’s simple and God wants us to be sure... “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”                                                                           I John 5:13  (NIV) Here’s how you can know for sure that you are a Christian and that you have eternal life: Step 1 Recognize that HEAVEN (ETERNAL LIFE) IS A FREE GIFT WHICH CANNOT BE EARNED AND IS NOT DESERVED. “... the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                                                                      Romans 6:23b  (NIV) Therefore, no amount of personal effort, good works, or religious activity can earn us a place in heaven. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”                                                                    Ephesians 2:8-9  (NIV) Step 2 Admit that you are a SINNER and that your sin prevents you (and all people) from having a relationship with a perfect and holy God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...”                                                                            Romans 3:23 (NIV) “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."                                                                               James 2:10  (NIV) Step 3 Know that God loves you and does not want to CONDEMN ANYONE. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”                                                                                  II Peter 3:9  (NIV) But the same Bible that tells us that God loves us also reminds us that GOD IS A FAIR JUDGE WHO CANNOT IGNORE SIN. God says that... “...he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished..."                                                                            Exodus 34:7b  (NAS) “The soul who sins will die.”                                                                              Ezekiel 18:4  (NAS) Step 4 RECOGNIZE THAT GOD’S REMEDY FOR YOUR SIN PROBLEM IS JESUS CHRIST!   We’ve all sinned and the penalty for our sin is to die and be cut off from God forever.  We need forgiveness so that we can have a right relationship with God.   Jesus died on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sin so that we might be forgiven. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”                                                                               Romans 5:8  (NIV) “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”                                                                               I Peter 3:18a  (NIV) God hates our sins, but because of his love for us, he has placed them all on his Son.  Jesus took our sin in his body on the Cross.  Now Jesus offers us eternal life as a free gift.   Step 5 INVITE JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE BY PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN HIM. SAVING FAITH is the decision to trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation.  It means recognizing and accepting that when Jesus died on the Cross, it was to forgive your sins, and it is only by receiving his righteousness that you can get to heaven. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...”                                                                               Acts 16:31a (NIV) We don’t deserve the gift of eternal life.  But we can have it if we will receive it by faith. The question that God is asking you is, “Have you received the gift of eternal life?” If you have not, let’s clarify what is involved:    *It means that you admit that you cannot save yourself and that only Jesus’ death on the Cross is adequate to forgive your sins.    *It means that you receive the resurrected, living Christ into your life as Savior. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”                                                                      Revelation 3:20  (NIV)    *It means that you receive Jesus Christ into your life as Lord.  He comes as Master and King.  He made you.  He bought you and he wants to take his rightful place as the leader and guide of your life.    *It means that you repent of your sins.  That means that you are willing to turn from anything you have been doing that is not pleasing to him and to follow him as he reveals his will to you in his Word. NOW, IF THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY WANT YOU CAN ASK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST RIGHT NOW. “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved....for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”                                                                      Romans 10:10, 13  (NIV) HERE’S A SUGGESTED PRAYER YOU CAN SHARE WITH GOD: “Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and that I don’t deserve eternal life.  I know that you are perfect and holy and that I can never get rid of my own sin.  But, I believe you died on the Cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rose from the grave to purchase a place in heaven for me.  Lord Jesus, come into my life.  Take control of my life.  Forgive my sins and save me.  I now turn away from my sins and place my trust in you alone for my salvation.  I accept the free gift of eternal life.  Come into my heart.  I want to trust you as my Lord and Savior.  Amen” After you have prayed this prayer inviting Jesus into your life, print out this document, sign it and keep it somewhere safe to help you remember the decision you have made.  Signature____________________________      Date_______________________ If you prayed this prayer and it is the sincere desire of your heart, God promises that you have now been adopted into his spiritual family and have been guaranteed eternal life! “I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life.”                                                                                  John 6:47  (NLT) “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”                                                                               John 1:12-13  (NIV) By receiving Christ, we are born into God’s family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer...this is called “regeneration” or the “new birth.” WELCOME TO GOD’S FAMILY! What’s Next? If you’ve prayed to invite Jesus into your life for the first time or if reading this information has helped you finally understand what it means to be a Christian, this is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure of life in Christ! At Bethesda Church we want to help you grow in your relationship with God.  If you would like more information or if you have questions about what you’ve read, contact:  Jim Barnes.