How to Get to Heaven

Many people today are uncertain on how to get to heaven.  Many even doubt that one can be certain of such a thing.  The problem is that there are so many churches teaching so many different ways of getting to heaven that it can leave one very confused and often frustrated!  To find the answer to this very important need in our life, we must go to the Bible! We must not ask man for his opinion or belief on such an important matter, but we must go directly to God and His Word!

How to Get to Heaven

Many people today are uncertain on how to get to heaven.  Many even doubt that one can be certain of such a thing.  The problem is that there are so many churches teaching so many different ways of getting to heaven that it can leave one very confused and often frustrated!  To find the answer to this very important need in our life, we must go to the Bible! We must not ask man for his opinion or belief on such an important matter, but we must go directly to God and His Word!

1. We must understand that it is God's desire for all men to be saved.

 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”     I Timothy 2:3-4

2. We must understand that God wrote the Bible so that we can know how to be saved!

“These things have I 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.”     I John 5:13

3. Jesus told Nicodemus how to get to heaven.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”     John 3:1-7

In order for Nicodemus to go to heaven, he had to be born into the family of God!

4. Jesus told His disciples how to get to heaven.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”     John 14:1-6

Jesus told the disciples that He was the Way to heaven!

You don't get to heaven by church attendance, by being baptized, by taking the Lord's Supper, by giving money to the church, by doing enough good works, etc.

These are all good things and have their place in the Christian's life, but they have nothing to do with getting to heaven!!!

5. God's Plan of Salvation/Being Born Again

There are 3 things to know and 1 thing to do in order to be saved/born again!

You must realize that you are a sinner by birth.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”     Romans 3:23

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”     Romans 5:12

We were created perfect in God's image, but when Adam sinned in the garden all mankind inherited that sin nature. Now we are all sinners by birth!

You must realize there is a penalty/consequence for our sin – Hell.

“For the wages of sin is death;”     Romans 6:23a

The wages, the penalty, or paycheck for sin is death. This isn't referring to a physical death, but a spiritual death - Hell.

There are 2 deaths in the Bible - physical death & spiritual death - Hell.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”     Revelation 20:14

Because of our sin, we deserve hell!

You must realize that God loved you and sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”     Romans 6:23

What is that gift?

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”     Romans 5:8

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins!

You must repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be born again/saved!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”     II Peter 3:9

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”     Luke 13:3

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in   thine heartthat God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”     Romans 10:9-10

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”     Romans 10:13

A person gets saved/born again the moment that they realize they are a sinner, that because of their sin they deserve hell, but that God loved them enough to send His Son to die for them, and they are willing to call/pray to God repenting of their sin believing on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Conclusion

Has there been a time when you called on the Lord Jesus to save you?  You could today, if you understand that you are a sinner and need Jesus Christ as your Saviour.  All you have to do is pray, believing on Jesus with all your heart, repenting of your sin, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and He will save you. We would love to hear from you if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.