My friend, I would like to ask you the most important question of your life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?
Most people, when asked that question, say something like this: "I´ve led a pretty good life. No one can really know. I attend church on a regular basis. I try to treat people right or I hope that I´d go to Heaven." But they are not really sure. Why are they willing to risk their future on wishful thinking when the Bible tells how they can be 100% sure?
God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple and you can be saved today!
First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The Bible says that because we are sinners we all fall short of God´s glory. In our natural state none of us are pure enough to enter Heaven. As supreme justice of the universe, He cannot allow sin to enter Heaven.
The Bible declares that we became sinners through Adam´s transgression in the garden. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world . . ." (Romans 5:12).
The Bible also says that because we are sinners we are condemned to death. "For the wages (payment) of sin is death . . ." (Romans 6:23a). This includes not only physical death but also eternal FIRE from God in Hell (Revelation 20:14).
The Bible declares that Jesus Christ crucified is God´s remedy for sin. "But God commendeth (proved) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He paid for all our sins and bridged the gulf that separated us from God. Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He became our substitute. Jesus died a humiliating, agonizing death, but He didn´t remain in the grave. He rose again conquering death, hell, and the grave.
It is the sinner´s responsibility to personally receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus (which means you are sorry for your sins and you are willing to turn from your sins and live as Christ would have you live according to the Bible), and shall believe in their heart, God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Which means that Christ´s death and resurrection alone was sufficient to pay the price for our sins) (Romans 10:9). "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12)
Let us review: Receiving Christ is as simple as taking these five steps:
1. Admit you are a sinner.
2. Realize your sin has separated you from God.
3. Be willing to turn from your sin to God.
4. Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and He rose in victory over death.
5. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Now let me ask you the same question again: If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity? Entrance into Heaven is not based on what we have done, but on what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Salvation is God´s gift that we do not deserve nor can ever earn. Performing good works, joining a church, lodge, or any other organization cannot save you. The choice is yours. Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith!!!
If you choose God´s way, you can pray something like this: Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. I realize that because I am a sinner I deserve to burn eternally in hell. Lord please forgive me for my sins. I willingly turn from my sins and I desire to live as Christ would have me to live according to the Bible. Thank You for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I personally receive you as my Lord and Savior and I now invite You to come into my heart and life. Amen
If you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have an exciting life of spiritual growth ahead of you. Here are some ways you can grow spiritually.
1. Share with others the commitment you have made. (I Peter 3:15)
2. Be baptized. Baptism identifies you with Christ. (Acts 8:35-39)
3. Study the Bible. The Bible will reveal God´s plan for your life. (II Timothy 2:15)
4. Join and attend a Bible-Believing church regularly. (Hebrews 10:25)
