AWL Show Notes How to Be Sure You'll Get to Heaven
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How to Be Sure You'll Get to Heaven Show Notes
Show Notes from A Wonderful Life - AWL Show Notes
DVD: # 119121
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Summary
What does it take to get to Heaven? Are you 100% sure that if you die today you will get there? This program will settle it once and for all.
Motivational Minute:
Revelation 21:3b-4 "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Question:
In your personal opinion, what do you think it takes to get to heaven?
Many times I hear things like, "As long as you are a good person", or "as long as you go to church and read your Bible", or "as long as your good works out weigh the bad", or "as long as your baptized." Well, I would like to share with you what the Bible says about how you get to heaven.
It can best be described by one word: F.A.I.T.H. 1.
F is for FORGIVENESS
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without god's forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7a "In Him (meaning Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (NIV *)
A is for AVAILABLE
Forgiveness is available. It is:
AVAILABLE FOR ALL
John 3:16 (Jesus is speaking) "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV *)
BUT IS NOT AUTOMATIC
Matthew 7:21a (Jesus speaking) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." (NIV *)
I is for IMPOSSIBLE
It is impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven.
GOD IS – LOVE
John 3:16
GOD IS JUST
James 2:13a "For judgment is without mercy." (NKJV **)
MAN IS SINFUL
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (NIV *) But how can a sinful person enter Heaven where God allows no sin?
T is for TURN
If you were driving down the street in the wrong direction and someone told you to turn, what would he be telling you to do? Turn means to repent.
TURN from something – sin and self Luke 13:3b (Jesus speaking) "But unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (NKJV **)
TURN to someone
1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 (The Bible tells us 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." (NKJV **)
Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
H is for HEAVEN
Heaven is eternal life
HERE
John 10:10b (Jesus speaking) "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (NKJV **)
HEREAFTER
John 14:3 (Jesus speaking) "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (NKJV **)
I also like the way this Bible version states it.
John 14:3 (Jesus speaking) "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am." (NLT ***)
HOW
How can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord?
Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (NIV *)
John 11:25-26a (In this passage, Jesus was speaking to Martha about the death of her brother Lazarus.) "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.'" (NIV *)
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (NIV *)
Illustration One:
Holy God separated by Sinful Man – we need a bridge to God. We think we can bridge that gap by being good or going to church or tithing etc. Jesus is the only way to bridge that gap.
Illustration Two:
Those going to Heaven will not be divided by good people and bad people. It will be divided by those who believed in Jesus and those who rejected Him.
John 19:30 (In this passage, Jesus was on the cross.) "When He (Jesus) had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (NIV *)
What are you going to do? Receive Jesus as Lord of your life and turn from your sins or reject Him? True love is never forced so God lovingly gives you the choice to receive Him or to reject Him.
Pray this simple prayer. It's not so much the words that you say as it is the attitude of your heart.
"Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open my heart to you now. Come and be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for rising from the grave, forgiving my sins, and giving me eternal life with You. Amen."
*(NIV) - New International Version.
**(NKJV) - New King James Version.
***(NLT) - New Living Translation
1 - The FAITH outline was created by LifeWay Press.
Take Action:
- Write this day down as the day you became a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Tell someone. And find a solid church that believes in God's Word.
- Get a reliable and readable Bible. I like the New International Version (NIV *) and if you want a really easy to read version, also look at the New Living Translation (NLT ***).
- Finally, Let us know about your decision so I can praise God for you! Email me on the "Contact Sharon" page.
Notes from A Wonderful Life with Sharon Hinton Smith show. © 2005 - 2013
You are invited to print and keep these notes for personal encouragement. www.sharonhintonsmith.com
