Will Heaven Be Your Home?
if the gospel of jesus is referred to as good news, then we need to know the bad news first...
We Are "Children of Wrath"
"Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." - Epheshians 2:3
To understand this, that the Bible says we are at war with God should be a very frightening thought. To be "at war" with the One who SPOKE the universe into existence is definitely not a "Fair Fight".
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" - Romans 5:12
When Adam (Garden of Eden) chose of his free will to disobey God's commandment, sin entered the world. It wasn't just that they ate a piece of fruit from the ONLY tree God told them was off limits. But it was because they broke their trust in God's guidance/judgement/love. Their prideful temptation gave them the false idea that they knew better for themselves than what God's Love had initially planned for them. That sin "tainted" Adam's blood so that by genetic inheritance all men & women are born with sin. Look at a baby or a child. They don't have to learn to behave badly, it comes "naturally".
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" - Romans 3:23
Sin & God's Holiness Don't Mix
"For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." - Psalms 5:4-5
“Your [God's] eyes are too pure to look on evil” - Habakkuk 1:13
Well I don't really sin - I've never stolen anything
God's holiness (standards) are much higher and complex than what our finite minds can comprehend. To the point that He hates the "small sin" just as much as the "big sin" and both disqualifies us from spending eternity in Heaven.
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" - James 2:10
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" - James 4:17
The Bible doesn't explain sin as just as simply as just bad things we do, but also as the good things we do not. Though heavily tainted by our sinful nature, even the individual who doesn't know God is born with a general sense of right and wrong. (Adhering to that sense is the problem)
"The conscience reveals to us a moral law whose source cannot be found in the natural world, thus pointing to a supernatural Lawgiver." - C. S. Lewis (Author/Apologist)
WHAT IS GOD'S WRATH ON SINNERS?
"For the wages of sin is death..." - Romans 6:23
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." - Revelations 24:14
Hell is a literal place of eternal torture and suffering. Being that the soul is eternal, there is NO end.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” - Revelations 21:8
This whole page could be filled with scripture referencing Hell . Jesus himself, spoke more often and more vividly on the reality of Hell than He ever did on Heaven.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS? NOTHING
“But I'm a good person, I think I'm GOOD ENOUGH...”
Our culture (even "Christian" culture) is littered with this lie about heaven. Unfortunately NO WHERE in the Bible does it guarantee heaven for being "an alright guy". You may be a wonderful person who does a lot of nice things for people or has the respect to treat most people with human decency, but you and I still FALL SHORT of God's requirements.
Now we're not going to list all the 10 commandments God gave to Moses for the children of Israel. God DID NOT give us the Ten Commandments as some rules to follow to inherit eternal life (though they are a perfect basis for law & civility). God DID give us the Ten Commandments as a basic mirror in which we can see our sinful depravity and how much we need a Savior. And being guilty of just one, according to God's holiness, we are guilty of the whole law.
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. " - James 2:10-13
If you were hanging over the Grand Canyon by a chain, how many links in that chain would have to break for you to fall to your demise?
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” - Isaiah 64:6
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” - Romans 3:23
“Well I'm a member at (insert DENOMINATION here)...”
You can be a member at a Baptist church, a Methodist Church, a Seventh Day Adventist, Church of God, Pentecostal, Lutheran, AND SO ON - AND SO ON - AND STILL END UP IN HELL
The Bible says God is not a "respecter of persons" meaning he does not give people special treatment, whether you're a Lutheran, Catholic or whatever.
"I got Baptized... So i'm fine right?"
Another major lie in the worldly christian culture. Whether baptized as a baby (which is a whole other nonsensical & UnBiblical issue) OR baptized as an adult. Dunked or Sprinkled. It HAS NO SAVING POWER. Baptism is NOT a pre-requisite for salvation, but an outward and public demonstration of your salvation.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:39-43
Jesus did not say to the thief on the cross... I'm sorry, I'd love to save you but, you never got baptized. Or obviously you weren't a "good enough guy". Or I never saw your name on the member list of the local hip church denomination. NOPE! He said TODAY shalt though be with me in paradise. The thief realized his own sin. He realized Jesus had no sin. He realized his need for a Savior. And he realized Jesus' sovereign Kingship and that he would hold the power over the grave for "dead men have NO kingdom."
GOD LOVES YOU AND GIVES YOU AN ESCAPE PLAN!
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6-8
So what does jesus have to do about this escape plan?
HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO TAKE UPON OUR SIN ON THE CROSS
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 ye were healed. - 1 Peter 2:24
GOD'S WRATH WAS POURED OUT ON HIM
But 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:5-6
HE DID IT BY HIS OWN FREE WILL
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. - Romans 5:6-10
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; - Colossians 2:13-14
HIS BLOOD WAS SPILLED FOR OUR RANSOM
In the original law, men and women would have to offer an animal sacrifice in the temple to atone for their sins. The priest would kill this animal and place it's blood upon the mercy seat of the tabernacle. This was a continuous practice. Jesus and the new covenant changed all this. His sacrifice and blood would atone for sins ONCE AND FOR ALL.
why jesus though? what was special about him?
HIS BLOOD WAS PURE (UNCONTAMINATED)
Jesus' VIRGIN BIRTH is not only a nice scene on a Christmas Card, but a MAJOR theological event. The Bible references sin as a blood sickness and an inheritance from the Garden of Eden when Adam chose disobedience. This blood sickness is inherited biologically through the genetics of the father. This was the purpose of the Virgin Birth to avoid that genetic inheritance. Jesus did NOT inherit the "Sin Gene" because His blood was of God the Father.
LIVED A PERFECT LIFE - IN TUNE WITH GOD'S WILL - SINLESS & BLAMELESS
In the old testament, when Israelites went to the temple to sacrifice an animal for sin atonement, when sacrificing a lamb, it was to be spotless. Jesus was SPOTLESS without Sin, making him the "spotless lamb" . If Jesus had ever sinned, His blood would HAVE NOT been sufficient. Nor would He be able to take on God's (the Father) FULL WRATH to atone for every sin ever committed or to be committed by man.
so i believe Jesus did these things... now what?
HEAD KNOWLEDGE VS HEART KNOWLEDGE
So understanding and believing Jesus was real and died on the cross is NOT ENOUGH. The Bible says we need a "HEART Knowledge" and not just a "Head Knowledge". Think of it like the relationship with your Doctor. If you're sick (physically), just believing the Doctor is a real person, that he has an office, and that he went to however many years of medical school will do you NO GOOD. You need to go to him or call on him for him to do you any good.
BORN AGAIN (FROM A CHILD OF WRATH TO A CHILD OF GOD)
"BORN AGAIN" can sound a bit confusing, but don't feel alone. Nicodemus, a curious Pharisee, was curious/confused at how this could be...
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. - John 3:1-21
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17
What is true Biblical repentance? Some would say it means to PROMISE not to sin anymore, but this not the case. This "Lordship Salvation" negates GOD'S perfect work of the cross by making a "trade" with God. As we've discussed prior, we cannot earn Salvation. The Bible speaks that when we truly get "saved" or "born-again" that we inherit a "NEW nature", BUT the Bible reminds us that along with this new nature we still carry the "old man". This is the old sin nature of our flesh that we will battle with till God removes us from actual presence of sin. So what is TRUE BIBLICAL REPENTANCE? It is a CHANGE OF MIND. It is the change of thought from thinking we could get to heaven by our own works (being a good person, paying penance, getting baptized, belonging to a certain church etc) to realizing it is ONLY by Jesus' work on the cross that we may be saved. It is Jesus plus nothing.
SALVATION IS A GIFT - ITS UP TO YOU TO RECEIVE IT
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2: 8-10
All of God's Word is of value, but this piece of scripture could not be more straight to the point. Salvation is a tangible moment and event. Not just an idea or philosophy. The Apostle Paul does a wonderful job relating the moment we put our faith in trust in Jesus Christ as to one receiving a gift. This goes back to the idea of the "HEART Knowledge". If a person hands you a gift, YOU must receive it. And not only receive but to open it for it to do you any good. You could take that gift and put it away and it never do you any good. You did not earn that gift but it is there and wrapped JUST FOR YOU. Paul writes "lest any man should boast." signifying again that it is what God did for us and nothing we did other than trust in His accomplishment. The apostle Paul was talking to saints ("christians") in Ephesus with this letter. These were people that had a personal relationship with their savior so he says "for we are his workmanship... created unto good works". Good works and becoming more Christ-like are by-products of salvation. God’s work through the Holy Spirit helps us to evolve our character and it is an outward & visible change making our love & appreciation visible.
ASKING JESUS “INTO YOUR HEART” - CONFESSING HIS NAME
“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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:9-13
Are YOU Ready To Be Saved?
Are you now at the point that you realize your depravity? Do you understand that your sin has put you in the crosshairs of the Father’s WRATH? Most importantly, do you now know HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU? That if you were the only one who needed salvation, Jesus would have still went to the cross! The Bible calls Jesus “the GOOD Shepherd” and quite often refers to us as sheep who’ve gone astray.
“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man (or SHEPHERD) have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which (HERE’S YOU) is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”
Matthew 18:11-13
If Jesus is our SAVIOR - then we must first really understand that we NEED SAVING. Here at New Hope, we don’t take that lightly. We know it’s pivotal to someone truly coming to Christ.
Now if you’re ready to accept the awesome gift of the cross and want to have the assurance that Heaven would be your home if you died today, you could speak/pray/plead/cry out to God using this simple “Sinner’s Prayer” below. The prayer itself is not a “secret password”, it is just a guide. BUT if you speak from the heart, God will hear you and SAVE YOU this very moment.
Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.
IF YOU'VE ACCEPTED THE AMAZING GIFT OF SALVATION TODAY, LET US KNOW! WE'D LOVE TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU! SHOOT US AN EMAIL @ NHBCPLANO@GMAIL.COM
