The main purpose of the Bible is to show us the way of salvation (John 20:31); and the main message of the Bible is that there is salvation for all people through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16; Acts 4:12).
Are you saved? Do you know where you will spend eternity? Has anyone ever taken the time to show you from the Bible how you can know for sure that you will go to heaven when your life on earth ends? May I?
The Bible can be divided into two main parts: Bad News (which is about us) and Good News (which is about God). There are two main points to each.
Let's begin with the Bad News.
Point #1 -- YOU ARE A SINNER! Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." All of us. Every single one of us. What this means is that God has set a standard for us all to meet. That standard: that we be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45) and perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48). The "bad news" is that none of us is holy and perfect. When the Bible says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" it means that we all fall short of meeting God's standard. No matter what we do, how hard we try, or how religious we become, all our efforts fall short... Bad news! Prepare yourself -- the bad news gets worse.
Point #2 -- THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN IS DEATH. Romans 6:23 says that "the wages of sin is death." What this means is that because we are all sinners (you and me) we will all die. Death is the wage we earn for being sinners, for falling short of God's standard. Death does not just mean a cessation of biological life here on earth. By death the Bible means separation from God for time and eternity. When life here on earth ends, we will spend eternity separated from God in a place called "hell" where we will suffer everlasting torment to body, mind, and soul! Bad news, wouldn't you agree?
To make matters worse, there is nothing any one of us can do to save ourselves from hell. Psalm 49 says this: "Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice, that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit" (v. 7-9).
Let not your heart be troubled; there is some Good News. Let's now consider it.
Point #1 -- CHRIST DIED FOR YOU! Romans 5:8 says that "God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." God sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to do for us what we were unable to do for ourselves. Jesus came to earth to fulfill all the demands of God's Law (i.e. to meet the standard God requires of us all) on our behalf and for our sake. And he also gave himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world. Jesus took upon himself that which was causing our death (your death and mine, namely sin) and placed it upon himself, dying in our place, as our substitute so that we could live! Christ bore the consequence of sin for us all (for you!). Christ died for you! Good news!!
Well, just as the Bad News got worse, so the Good News gets better!
Point #2 -- YOU CAN BE SAVED THROUGH FAITH. Ephesians 2:8 says "For by grace you have been saved through faith." Faith is simply "trust." Faith is simply trusting in Christ alone, in what he has done for you to save you. Good news, wouldn't you agree?
The question is: Have you come to that point in your life of trusting in Christ and in what he has done for you? If not, would you like to?! Go to prayer right now. Tell the Lord that you are a sinner in need of the Savior (Jesus), and that you are now trusting in Christ alone for forgiveness, life, and salvation. In so doing, you will be saved.
How can you know for sure that you will spend eternity in heaven? Assurance is based, not upon what you feel, but upon the promise of God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). And His promise is that those who "Believe in the Lord Jesus...will be saved" (Acts 16:31; see also John 5:24 and 1 John 5:11-13).
Still not sure? Would you like to visit with someone about the assurance of salvation? Feel free to contact Pastor Greg Schram: pastorgreglchaflc@gmail.com or call 970-290-2334.
