How to Have Eternal Life in Heaven
If you would survey a group of people at random about this issue you would probably get about as many answers as the number of people you asked. Just how does a person gain salvation and eternal life in heaven with God after our life on earth ends?
The answer begins by first understanding our spiritual position before our holy God. The Bible says that by the voluntary disobedience of one man, Adam, "sin entered the world... and death through sin, and in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12).
Death means separation, and in one terrible moment man became separated from God. He died spiritually and began to die physically. From then on, all the children and descendants of Adam and Eve (the entire human race) inherited their corrupt nature and sinful character. "There is no one righteous, not even one... no one who seeks God, ...no one who does good, not even one, ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:9-12, 23).
Today we are sinners by birth, by natural tendency, by choice and by practice. Our root problem is not what we do, but who we are. We sin (break God's laws) because we are sinners. We have alienated ourselves from the life and family of God, with no humanly possible means of recovery or salvation (Psalm 51:5; Mark 7:20-23; Ephesians 2:3).
Therefore, salvation is a free gift provided by God to all who would receive it. No amount of resolution, effort, church activity, or submission to regulation can help the sinner take even one step toward heaven, "for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23).
The Bible says that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind on the cross as a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner's place. All who trust Christ as their personal Savior are granted forgiveness, a spiritual standing of righteousness (justified) before God on the basis of Jesus' shed blood on Calvary and on the basis of His resurrection from the dead (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 5:1, 12).
This is the only way a person can go to heaven — through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). The Bible's word for faith or belief in Jesus Christ means reliant trust that He did die for you on the cross and rose again. This singular act in one's soul is described in the Bible simply like receiving a gift, taking a drink, or calling on His name. It's the most important decision you will ever make in your entire life.
The Lord Jesus Christ holds your eternal destiny in His hands — heaven or hell. Won't you trust in Him as your personal Savior today?
If you would like to discuss this matter further, please don't hesitate to call the church at 937-692-8188.