“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
– Luke 18:18
The answer to this question determines our destiny for all of eternity.
The question is NOT…
Do you THINK you would go to heaven?
Do you HOPE you would go to heaven?
Do you WISH you would go to heaven?
but DO YOU KNOW, according to God’s Word, that heaven will be your home after death.
We have good news for you who are sincere and truly interested in knowing the only correct answer. The Bible declares, “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” – 1 John 5:13
The key is that “these things are written” for you and me to carefully examine and to know for ourselves. Perhaps you will be amazed to discover that eternal life is not found in church membership, baptism, holy communion, by keeping God’s law, or by any other good work.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” -Titus 3:5
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, let any man should boast.” -Ephesians 2:8,9
Eternal life is in a person
The Word of God tells us that Jesus said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” -John 14:6
The way to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior from sin. Paul the Apostle wrote,
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ Died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” -1 Corinthians 15:3,4
How can you know that you have eternal life?
Please consider these few verses out of the hundreds of references that clearly teach how to be saved. We must acknowledge we have sinned before God. The Bible states plainly,
“As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” -Romans 3:10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23
We need to understand that only God can save us from our sins through the provision of His Son.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 6:23
“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.” -Romans 5:8,9
Now you have to only personally believe and call upon Jesus Christ in prayer to forgive your sins and to give you eternal life as a free gift apart from your own good works. We find in scripture,
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified (declared righteous) by faith without the deeds of the law.” -Romans 3:28
“That if thou shalf 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 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:9.10,13
Our part is to believe and call. It is God’s responsibility to save you. Ask him to forgive your sins and to take you to heaven when you die. There is a great difference between “working FOR eternal life” and “Working BECAUSE God has given you eternal life by faith in his Son, Jesus Christ.”
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:10
Right now, do you know according to the Bible that you have eternal life? If not, believe God’s Word today and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior by faith. Obey Him in believer’s Baptism and join a Bible Believing church where you ca grow through Bible study prayer and fellowship with other Christians.
If you have claimed God’s promises, surrender your life to His services. Eternal life is free, but if we have it, we should honor Him with a life of obedience and good works for our testimony’s sake and God’s glory. For those who have been given eternal life, the Bible exhorts,
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” -Romans 12:1,2
If you have questions and would like to learn more about what it means to be saved, please contact our Pastor, Powers Payton at revcpp1@prodigy.net or at (616) 350-9376.