Why did Jesus Christ come to earth? He came to bring salvation to each one of us, eternal life with Him forever and ever. Perhaps you were brought up in a Christian home and have even gone to church most your life. But I’d like to ask you a question. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and do you have the assurance that if you were to die tonight, you’d go to heaven?
There are two questions that I was asked a few years ago that changed my life. First question: Have you come to the place in your spiritual life that if you were to die tonight, you’d know for certain that you would go to heaven? Second question: Suppose you were to die and stand before God and He were to ask you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” What would you tell Him? I ask you, what would you tell him? Well, when I was asked that question many years ago, I replied, “I’ve been a good person and I go to church regularly and have since I was a little kid.”
But I’ve come to find out the greatest news in the world and why it’s called Good News! I don’t have to earn my way to heaven, for the Bible tells me heaven is a free gift. Roman’s 6:23 (NIV) says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It can’t be earned. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” The Bible tells us that you and I are sinners. Romans 3:23 (NIV) says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Now where does God fit into the picture? God is a just God. He must punish sin, but He doesn’t want to punish us, so in a most beautiful and loving way, He provides His son, Jesus Christ, the God infinite man. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NIV.”
Specifically, what did Jesus do for us? He died for our sins, and He purchased us a place in heaven which we can come and receive by faith. You see, it’s all about trusting in Him, not trusting in our works.
I want to ask you right now to pray this prayer with me. Dear Father, I come to you in Jesus name. I recognize that heaven is a free gift, for by grace I am saved through faith and not any works of my own. I recognize that I am a sinner, and I turn from that. I repent and I realize that God, You love me and you do not want to punish me, but You provided a way for me, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins, and He purchased me a place in heaven, which I’m coming right now to receive by faith. Dear Jesus, would you come into my heart and be my Lord and my Savior? In Jesus Name, amen.
I want to encourage you right now to read 1 John 5:13 (NIV). This is your assurance passage. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
If you have any questions or want to go deeper, please don’t hesitate to contact me.