PILGRIM

HOW YOU CAN KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN

I often ask people if they know if they are going to heaven and if so, what are they counting on to get them there. I get all sorts of answers. Some of the most popular responses are: “I hope so.” “I’m a good person.” I’ve never broken any of the Ten Commandments.” “I do a lot of really good things.” “I go to church all the time.” “I am hoping that my good outweighs my bad.” The Bible says that it is possible to know for certain that you are going to heaven! This certainty is based on the promises of God. You can know that your sins are forgiven, and that God has reserved a place for you with Him in Heaven. I John 5:13 says: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

All of us are sinners. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." There is not a single man, woman or child who can claim to have no sin in God's eyes.

The fair punishment for our sins is death. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death . . ." If we were to receive what we truly deserve for our sin against the holy character of God, it would be eternal death!

God loves you and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for your sins. Galatians 2:20 says that ". . . the Son of God . . . loved me and gave Himself up for me." Since death is the penalty for sin, Jesus Christ--the One Who never sinned, never broke God the Father's law--willingly sacrificed Himself for you and me. He died on the cross, taking the punishment that you and I deserve. That way God could be just -sin was punished as it should be - and also the “Justifier” as He made us right with Him through Jesus Christ. Romans 3:26

We receive God's gift of salvation not by working for it, nor by trying to be a good person, but by trusting in Christ as our Savior. Acts 16:31 says: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...". The promise of eternal life in John 3:16 is given to “whoever believes in Him”! Romans 4:5 tells us "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, His faith is credited to him as righteousness."

Our salvation depends only on Jesus Christ, and His death, burial and resurrection, and not on how "good" we are, or how well we live the Christian life. His promise is, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even if He dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25, 26).

Have you trusted in Jesus as your personal Savior? If not, trust in Him today!

                                                                                                                                                               -Pastor Nate Hayman