Before this question can be answered, I must ask you a few questions first. You see, because this world is the way it is, and because people think the way they tend to think, we must quiz ourselves to see whether heaven is the place you are destined for in the first place! Why don't we simply keep it simple?
Here's how...
1) Do you think you're a good person? If so, go to #2; if not, go to #9
2) Have you ever lied? If so, go to #3; if not, go to #4
3) What is a person that lies called? Go to #4
4) Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of it's value or size? If so, go to #5; If not, go to #6
5) What is a person that steals something called? Go to #6
6) Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? If so, read note and go to #7;If not go to #7
*NOTE: What you are doing is substituting the name of your Creator for a 4-letter filth word in disgust. This is called blasphemy, and is very serious in the eyes of God!
7) Jesus said, "You have heard it said of old, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' but I say to you that if you look upon a woman with lust, you've committed adultery with her already in your heart." Have you ever lusted for someone? If so, go to #8; If not, go to #8
8) Now, if you are being honest with yourself, listening to your conscience, and have answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you have broken the law of God. God says that anyone who breaks even one of these commandments is condemned to death, and will spend eternity in hell! Even if it is just one of these you've said yes to, you are in serious trouble! Go to #9
9) So, knowing this, when you face God on judgment day, do you believe you will be found innocent or guilty? If 'guilty', go to #10; if 'innocent' go to #2 until you are honest with yourself, then continue to #10
10) If you are found guilty, you face eternal condemnation in the lake of fire. You are in serious trouble! You can not wiggle you're way out of this by making excuses either! You need help. There is a fine to be paid for the things you've done wrong, and the penalty is death. And if you are being honest, you would admit that you don't desire to die. Fortunately, Someone very special already did this for you! Someone already paid your fine so that you don't have to! Go to #11
11) His name is Jesus, and He cares for you very much! He took upon Himself the penalty you were supposed to bear, so you could walk in the freedom found through knowing Him. But, to receive this free gift of sacrifice, you have to do something. He only requires 3 things to receive this gift. Go to #12
12) First, you must believe that He did this for you, and believe in Him. Second, you must speak with your mouth that you wish to receive this free gift based on your belief in Him. And finally, you must repent (which means to stop doing the things you know are wrong (your sins), and start living in a different way; a way that is pleasing to God). Go to #13
13) If you've done these things in #12, you have 3 final steps...
First, get a Bible in the New Living Translation (when you go to a book store, or a Christian book store, just ask for this, and they will direct you to the right place), if you need one, but can't really afford one, let me know and I will personally get you one.
Second, start reading it! If you look in the table of contents, you will find a book named "John". Start there, and continue reading until you hit the end of the book. Then start at the beginning of the book after that.
Finally, find a church that teaches straight from the Bible and attend it regularly to gain spiritual guidance in your new found life!
You have now experienced true freedom. This does not mean you will stop experiencing "life" though. In other words, just as things were a few minutes prior to you accepting Jesus as the Savior of your life, they are now. Jesus doesn't take away the problems of the world, but He does help you walk through those problems in a different way than you've been used to until this point. Stay strong my new brother/sister, and learn as much as you can about this man named Jesus. Read to your hearts content, and the power of God will show you more than you could ever imagine about your new found faith!
Now that we are all on the same page, let me get one last point in. If you are a born-again believer, you should never have to question your security of heaven! Why? Because the Word is extremely clear that we are eternally His (Romans 6:22-23), and that we are given life through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).
No matter what you do, you can never NOT be His once you ARE His!
In back-to-back chapters, 1 Corinthians states that "...you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:20) And again, "For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called." (1 Cor. 7:22-24)
Finally, remember that when you feel condemned, you should remember the promises of our Savior. "For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) And not only that, but Paul said in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
The Bottom Line: All throughout scripture, there is assurance, security and promise of eternal life and eternal salvation given to us through the blood of Jesus, and that the blood He shed also covers us to the point of NO condemnation. So, if you question your security...if you wonder if you still have the "ticket" to heaven...if you dwell on whether your wrong-doings are still condemning you---STOP & BELIEVE!
"Unless you believe, you will not understand."
---Saint Augustine (354AD - 430AD)
2) Have you ever lied? If so, go to #3; if not, go to #4
3) What is a person that lies called? Go to #4
4) Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of it's value or size? If so, go to #5; If not, go to #6
5) What is a person that steals something called? Go to #6
6) Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? If so, read note and go to #7;If not go to #7
*NOTE: What you are doing is substituting the name of your Creator for a 4-letter filth word in disgust. This is called blasphemy, and is very serious in the eyes of God!
7) Jesus said, "You have heard it said of old, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' but I say to you that if you look upon a woman with lust, you've committed adultery with her already in your heart." Have you ever lusted for someone? If so, go to #8; If not, go to #8
8) Now, if you are being honest with yourself, listening to your conscience, and have answered 'yes' to any of these questions, you have broken the law of God. God says that anyone who breaks even one of these commandments is condemned to death, and will spend eternity in hell! Even if it is just one of these you've said yes to, you are in serious trouble! Go to #9
9) So, knowing this, when you face God on judgment day, do you believe you will be found innocent or guilty? If 'guilty', go to #10; if 'innocent' go to #2 until you are honest with yourself, then continue to #10
10) If you are found guilty, you face eternal condemnation in the lake of fire. You are in serious trouble! You can not wiggle you're way out of this by making excuses either! You need help. There is a fine to be paid for the things you've done wrong, and the penalty is death. And if you are being honest, you would admit that you don't desire to die. Fortunately, Someone very special already did this for you! Someone already paid your fine so that you don't have to! Go to #11
11) His name is Jesus, and He cares for you very much! He took upon Himself the penalty you were supposed to bear, so you could walk in the freedom found through knowing Him. But, to receive this free gift of sacrifice, you have to do something. He only requires 3 things to receive this gift. Go to #12
12) First, you must believe that He did this for you, and believe in Him. Second, you must speak with your mouth that you wish to receive this free gift based on your belief in Him. And finally, you must repent (which means to stop doing the things you know are wrong (your sins), and start living in a different way; a way that is pleasing to God). Go to #13
13) If you've done these things in #12, you have 3 final steps...
First, get a Bible in the New Living Translation (when you go to a book store, or a Christian book store, just ask for this, and they will direct you to the right place), if you need one, but can't really afford one, let me know and I will personally get you one.
Second, start reading it! If you look in the table of contents, you will find a book named "John". Start there, and continue reading until you hit the end of the book. Then start at the beginning of the book after that.
Finally, find a church that teaches straight from the Bible and attend it regularly to gain spiritual guidance in your new found life!
You have now experienced true freedom. This does not mean you will stop experiencing "life" though. In other words, just as things were a few minutes prior to you accepting Jesus as the Savior of your life, they are now. Jesus doesn't take away the problems of the world, but He does help you walk through those problems in a different way than you've been used to until this point. Stay strong my new brother/sister, and learn as much as you can about this man named Jesus. Read to your hearts content, and the power of God will show you more than you could ever imagine about your new found faith!
Now that we are all on the same page, let me get one last point in. If you are a born-again believer, you should never have to question your security of heaven! Why? Because the Word is extremely clear that we are eternally His (Romans 6:22-23), and that we are given life through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).
No matter what you do, you can never NOT be His once you ARE His!
In back-to-back chapters, 1 Corinthians states that "...you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:20) And again, "For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called." (1 Cor. 7:22-24)
Finally, remember that when you feel condemned, you should remember the promises of our Savior. "For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) And not only that, but Paul said in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
The Bottom Line: All throughout scripture, there is assurance, security and promise of eternal life and eternal salvation given to us through the blood of Jesus, and that the blood He shed also covers us to the point of NO condemnation. So, if you question your security...if you wonder if you still have the "ticket" to heaven...if you dwell on whether your wrong-doings are still condemning you---STOP & BELIEVE!
"Unless you believe, you will not understand."
---Saint Augustine (354AD - 430AD)
