I would guess that most people want to know how to go to heaven, but they really just don't know how they can for sure know that they are going.  Good news!  The Bible, which is God's Word, gives us clear directions!  Now, I don't know about you, but I like to know where I am going and how to get there if I am going on a trip.  I don't want to just guess and hope that I end up in the right place.  It is even more important with us and what happens after we die.  The Bible tells us that everyone will have existence after death.  We will either live forever in God's Heaven, or we will die forever in hell.  God is perfect and holy (that means that He has no bad parts).  We are sinful (that means we do wrong things).  I am sure that you could think about this past week and all the bad things you have done.  That is called sin.  The Bible tells us that God cannot have sin in heaven.  That is a problem.  Because we are sinful.  Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of God's glory."  That is who we are.  Romans 6:23 says this: "For the wages of sin is death..."  If we are sinners, and we are, then the wages, or payment, for our sin is death.  And not just physical death, but eternal separation from God in a real place called hell.  But the rest of the verse says "...but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  All we need to do to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who is God, is just to believe or have faith.  Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."  And verse 13 says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

We cannot do anything to merit God's forgiveness and gain access to heaven.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast."  Jesus is God.  He came to this earth to live as a man, but he lived perfectly, without sin!  He then died sacrificially for us.  That means He died in my place and in your place.  He was buried, and then on the third day, He rose again, proving He is God, and that He has power over sin, death and Satan.

Many people think that we will all find our own way to heaven, but Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one will come to the Father but by Me."  Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to gain access to heaven.  Maybe you go to church, or do good things or something like that.  That is all good, but it won't get you into heaven.  I am not talking about getting a religion, but rather having a personal relationship with the Almighty God!  Romans 5:8 says, "For God commended (that means showed) His love towards us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  God wants to have a relationship with you, but the choice is yours.

It is really very simple.  I think of it like ABC.

A -- Admit you are a sinner.  I think we can all agree to that.

B -- Believe that Jesus is who He said He is, and that He did what He said He did.

C -- Confess, or call out to  God.

There isn't any magical formula, or certain things you have to say, you just have to believe that Jesus is God, that He died for your sins and rose again, and tell God that. You can talk to God right where you are at.  Just say something like this: "Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.  I believe that Jesus is God, and that He died for my sins and rose again.  Please come into my life, wash away my sins, and save me now.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen."

Now, if you just prayed something like that, and you absolutely meant it, the Bible says that you are now a child of God!  That means you now have a personal relationship with God, and a place forever in heaven!  That is really exciting!  If today for the first time you made this most important decision to put your faith in Jesus to save you, please email me and let me know!

Pastor Brad