Can I ask you a personal question?

 

In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to go to Heaven?

 

I'd like to share with you how the Bible answers this question.

 

There is a word that can be used to answer this question. The word is FAITH.

FAITH is an acronym where each letter stands for something more specific.

 

F - is for Forgiveness

We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness.

The Bible says "In Him (meaning Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

 

A - is for Available

What is available? God's forgiveness is available, it is available for all.

The Bible has a familiar verse, which says "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son that who ever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

 

But God's forgiveness is not Automatic. The Bible also says "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven". You might ask yourself, "Why Not?"

 

That answer is in the next letter, which is the letter I.

 

I - is for Impossible

It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. As we mentioned above, God is Love; "For God so loved the world that he sent his only son", but God is also Just. The Bible says that "For Judgement is without mercy." Judgement on what ?

The Bible is referring to judgement on sin. The Bible also tells us that Man (mankind) is sinful by nature. It says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".

At this point you may be asking yourself, "If man is sinful and God allows no sin into Heaven, then how do we get to Heaven?" That answer is in the letter T.

 

T - is for Turn

For example, if you are driving down the road and someone asks you to turn or turn around, what are they asking you to do? They would be asking you to change direction. Here Turn means Repent or change your life's direction. So when you turn, you have to turn from something; that is Sin and Self. Basically saying, turning from Man's sinful nature. The Bible says, "that unless you repent, you will all likewise perish". So when we turn from our sinful nature, we must turn to something. That something is Jesus Christ. We are to trust Christ only.

The Bible tells us that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again from the grave on the third day according to the scriptures.

The Bible also says, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved."

 

H - is for Heaven

Heaven is eternal life. Heaven is Here (meaning here on earth). The Bible says, "I have come so that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly". Heaven is also in the Hereafter. The Bible also says, "And if I go and prepare you a place, I will return and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also."

 

How can a person have eternal life, forgiveness of their sins and Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior? FAITH also stands for

Forsaking All I Trust Him

 

All you have to do is pray and ask Jesus into your heart.

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