For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that
He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
It’s sad to talk to people who think they are going to heaven or hope they are going to heaven who have no idea it’s about Jesus and what He did on the cross.
I recently read one Hollywood actress say she wasn’t afraid to die because she was a good person and knew she was going to heaven.
Or the many false religions that say you have to do enough good works to get there. That Jesus’ death was not enough or wasn’t sufficient.
My eyes have been opened just by being on X and reading what people believe about almost anything, including why they think they will be in heaven. Many get their answers from the Bible, but many do not.
No one gets to heaven by being sincere or good enough or doing enough good works. And the popular notion that everyone goes to heaven is patently false.
The Bible says there is only one way to get to heaven when you die, and that’s through believing in the shed blood of Jesus as a payment for your sins.
Here is how to know:
Table of Contents
1) Admit You’re a Sinner
Most people have no trouble admitting they have sinned (done something wrong). But what they don’t realize is that one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven.
God is holy, and no sin is in heaven.
The Bible says that every person has sinned, and the penalty is death.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death…
Death in this verse is talking about eternal separation from God.
2) Believe Jesus Died for Your Sins
God promised to provide a way for every sinner to go to heaven.
He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a baby. Jesus lived a sinless life. Jesus knew He had come to die for the sins of the world because He was the only One without sin.
When He shed His blood on the cross, The Father in Heaven essentially said, “The sins of the world have been paid, but people must believe. Their faith is what I require of them.”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one should boast.
That’s it. Salvation is God’s free gift to anyone who believes that Jesus is the only way they can get to heaven. God will declare you righteous, and you will go to heaven when you die.
If you sincerely want to understand why Jesus had to die or are questioning God’s way and why He couldn’t have done it differently, I encourage you to read Got Questions: Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
More Verses
Romans 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
John 3:17-18 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. but anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
1 Peter 2:22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
1 John 3:5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.
Romans 3:23-25 For everyone has sinned. We all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins.
Romans 4:25 He [Jesus] was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
John 6:40 [Jesus speaking] For it is my Father’s will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.
John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (talking about Jesus).
John 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
1 John 1:5 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
First Steps
If you have admitted you are a sinner, and acknowledge that the only way to heaven is by believing Jesus died for your sins, you are saved. You are a Christ follower now (Christian).
Expect your life to change. God doesn’t leave you to figure out things for yourself.
He has put His Spirit to live inside of you. You will begin to recognize it by the way you think.
He has given us the Bible, which is His word to us. So, you will want one (some churches give them away for free).
He will hear you when you pray. So, talk to Him about anything.
He has local churches that are meant to be like family and to help you grow in the knowledge of God and what it means to be a Christian. So, find one that teaches the Bible ASAP.
If you have questions, Got Questions is a great online resource.
And find someone to tell. If you don’t know who, you can tell me. Or you can tell me and someone else! I would love to know and help you get started.