This afternoon, on the way home from school, I was practicing my FAITH outline with Tyler. I asked him the Key Question: In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes to get to heaven?
Tyler's answer: Well first you have to die.
Chuckling to myself, I thought, "His answer is partly true". I am praying for both of my children - that God would save them at an early age, that they would be passionate about God, know Him, and love Him and serve Him with all of their heart!
So, in your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes to get to heaven and have eternal life?
Let me share with you how the bible answers this question. FAITH
F - FORGIVENESS
We all have sinned and need God's forgiveness. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
God's forgiveness is in Jesus only. "In him we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace." Ephesians 1:7
A - AVAILABLE
God's forgiveness is available for all. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, so that whoever would believe in him will not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
God's forgiveness is available for all but it is not automatic. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 7:21
I - IMPOSSIBLE
It is impossible for us to get to heaven on our own. "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourself, it is a gift from God, not of works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter heaven?
T - TURN
We must change direction; turn means repent. We must turn from something to someone.
We must turn from our sin and ourself. Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3
We must turn to Jesus alone as Savior and Lord. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Here is the greatest news of all!
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes resulting in righteousness. With the mouth one confesses resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9-10
So what happens if a person is willing to repent of their sins and confess Jesus?
H - HEAVEN
Heaven is a place where we will get to live with God forever. Jesus said, "If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to myself, so that where I am you may be also." John 14:3
Eternal life begins now with Jesus. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly." John 10:10
How can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven, and eternal life? By trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord.