ARE YOU HEAVEN BOUND?

Many people believe they are on their way to heaven, but are not! Many souls hope they are heaven bound, but are not! Some might say, "Well, that's your opinion." The honest truth is, that is Jesus' opinion! Look at what He said in Matthew 7:21-23:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jesus said, "Not everyone who professes my name is going to heaven." He said many will trust in their own good works to earn them a place in heaven, but they will be both surprised, and horrified at His answer, "I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Just before these startling statements, Jesus made another profound pronouncement in answer to those who think most people are going to heaven, Matthew 7:13-15:

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Friend, many people are trusting in their own goodness, church membership, baptism, observance of a moral code, traditions, and all sorts of other things to take them to heaven. Are you? These things will most certainly fail! These things cannot save!

Are you heaven bound? Here's how to know for sure...

ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE A SINNER

Romans 3:10 As it it written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The standard raised by God is Himself, not man. We might easily find someone that we can say we are better than, but no one can measure up to God's standard of perfectness. No one is perfect

THERE IS A PENALTY FOR SIN

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.


There is judgement for sin. It is not an unjust punishment, but "the wages" of sin. Some teach that there is an intermediate place known as Purgatory where people can pay for their sin. The Bible says concerning our passing from this life, "but after this the judgement." Sin brings physical death and spiritual death. The physical death is the first death; eternal separation from God is the second death.
Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

REALIZE YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.


A great number of people think they can appease God concerning sin by their own efforts. These are "the ways of death." Remember, Jesus said, "for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Man cannot adequately satisfy God concerning concerning sin:
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight...

GOD MADE A WAY FOR US

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Christ was not a sinner. The Bible teaches that God took all of our sin and placed it on Christ. While Christ was bearing all of our sins in His own body, God punished Him in our place to pay the debt we owe.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is a fact, Jesus Christ has already paid your sin debt.

 

YOU MUST REPENT AND RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST FOR SALVATION

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
In this verse, the Jesus divides the world into two groups: those who are believing and those who are not believing on the Son. Those who believe have everlasting life, and those who believe not shall not see life. It is so important to understand that He that believeth means more that intellectual acknowledgement of facts. In fact around ninety times in the Gospel of John, the Bible says, "believe." The word believe means to trust, to depend on, to rely on, To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ means that you accept the fact that you are a sinner, that as a sinner you owe the sin penalty, and that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the debt you owe. It means that you will completely trust Jesus Christ to get you to Heaven. You will put the matter of your salvation in His hands and depend on Him for everlasting life.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that yours sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

RESULTS OF SALVATION

When a person trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation, his/her entire life and way of thinking are changed!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

There is no more fear of the unknown of what happens after death!
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.


Man-made religion has greatly confused the issue of salvation. Jesus said if we have faith as a child we can be saved. Man has perverted that which God made so simple! If you will believe what God's Word says in this matter, abandon your own efforts to earn a place in heaven, and trust Jesus Christ for salvation, then it shall be so! God's Word promised!