God Will Let Me Into Heaven Because

February 25, 2013 at 11:49am

Why should God let you into heaven?  Now that’s a question!  What’s your answer?

     Because you’ve worked enough, been good enough to deserve a place beside Adam and Eve, Jesus, even the beggar Lazarus?  Titus 3:5 ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…’

     Because you give time and money to church and missionaries, to the TV preachers, to the homeless? Because you’re better than those hypocrites who make a show of being so good when someone’s looking? Because you can quote more Bible verses than your neighbor, your brother or sister, even your pastor? Because you go to church every time the doors are open?   Luke 18:10-14 ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee (often hypocritical religious leader), and the other a publican (tax collector).  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying “God be merciful to me a sinner.”  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.’

     Because you believe in God? John 3:18 ‘… he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.’ James 2:19 ‘The devils believe also (in God) and tremble.’

Because you’ve been baptized or confirmed? Because you’re a church member, or take communion? Acts 18:8 ‘…and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.’  Acts 2:47b ‘And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.’  Belief comes first, then you are baptized, added to the church roles, and take communion.           
    Because you’re a Baptist (or Methodist,   or Catholic, or Pentecostal or Mormon, or Jew or Muslim or…)?  Romans 3:9 ‘What then?  Are we better than they?  No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles (everybody who isn’t a Jew), that they are all under sin;’
     None of these reasons will do.

     If you realize you need to trust Jesus instead of yourself, tell him you were wrong, that you want to trust his death, burial and resurrection as payment for your sins. Ask him to forgive your sin of unbelief.  John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life’. Thank him for the Holy Spirit who will help you live for him from now on.  John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:’   There are no magic words that will save you.  It must come from the heart.  Talk to God as if he is right there listening to you.  He is, you know.  Romans 10:9 ‘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.’

Okay, I said the Prayer, But How do I Know I'm Saved?

Okay, I Said the Prayer But How Do I Know I'm Saved

February 25, 2013 at 11:52am

Glad you asked!  When you prayed, did you ask Jesus to forgive you and save you, in so many words?  Did you feel like God was trying to get your attention?  “No man can come to me, except the Father…draw him” (John 6:44) Was there a change in your heart and life?   “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

True repentance is “(I) have sinned, and have done perversely, (I) have committed wickedness: and so return unto thee with all (my) heart, and with all (my) soul” (1 Kings 8:47b-48a) False repentance is “I have sinned...because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice…pardon my sin.”  God said “I will not”.        (1 Samuel 15:24-26)  Saul refused to take responsibility for his sin.

Are you willing to admit with sorrow and shame that you aren’t good enough to get to heaven on your own? Are you convinced that nothing you can do will pay for your sins, either past, present or future? Do you rely completely on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, believing only he can save you? “He that believeth not on him (Jesus) is condemned already” (John 3:18) God “saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Is there a constant conflict about doing right and wrong? “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the others: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”.  (Galatians 5:17)

When you wonder if you’re saved, do you have a memory of asking for salvation?  ‘The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:’  (Romans 8:17)

Do spiritual things interest you? Do you enjoy telling and hearing stories of the blessings of God?  Does God give you wisdom when you ask for it?  Does God answer your smallest prayers? Deep down, do you really care what God says? “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”  (Romans 8:14) Does the Bible seem to apply to you?  Do you understand the Bible and believe it to be God’s Word?  “The Spirit…will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)  

Does living like ‘everyone else’ make you feel like you are doing something wrong? Do references to immoral sex, and crude jokes, drinking, immodest clothing and pictures, lying, stealing and swearing make you uncomfortable? Is your idea of what is right and wrong different from the world? “For when he (the Holy Ghost) is come, he will reprove the world of sin,” (John 16:8a)
When you sin, are there consequences?  If you cheat someone, do you seem to lose what you gained?  If you engage in immoral activity involving a partner of the same or opposite sex, are you miserable instead of happy?  If you are living a sinful life are you ashamed to be around ‘religious’ people? “And be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23)
Luke 15:11-32 shows what happens when God’s children sin. The stubborn son left the blessings of his father’s house for ‘riotous living’ (Luke 15:13), resulting in famine and misery. God was chastening (punishing) him.  He “came to himself”, repented and went home, admitting to his father that he was wrong. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons…But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all (saved people) are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”  (Hebrews 12:7a, 8) The chastisement was proof of his relationship with God.  Is there any proof of your relationship with God?
If you have been answering “yes”, and your sins are causing you to question your salvation, follow the prodigal son’s example and REPENT, lest God chastise you more.   Thank God for His keeping power and great love! “And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  (John 6:37b)
If you have been answering “no”, God says you are NOT his child.  “Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.”  (John 8:43, 44a)  If God has made you realize that the prayer you repeated earlier in life was just words to please someone else, RIGHT NOW is the time to ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your heart and make a change in your life.  There is no ‘proper’ prayer.  Just talk to God like he’s right there.  He is, you know.  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2b)  If you put it off, the devil will steal away the desire. He doesn’t want you to admit your need for a savior, or believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose again to prove He’s God and can, and will, forgive your sins.  The devil wants you to spend eternity in hell with him.  That will break your momma’s heart and God’s as well.  God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:9b)

The Prayer That Can Send You To HELL

February 25, 2013 at 11:55am

     Strange as it may seem, there is a prayer that can send you to hell!  And it’s the ‘sinner’s prayer’. 

     I can hear you thinking ‘What are you talking about?!’ 

     If you believe that ‘once saved, always saved’, repeating the sinner’s prayer – or asking Jesus to save you – can actually keep you from getting saved.  The reason for that is that many people think just saying the words will do the trick.  Bingo! You’re saved!  Now no matter what I do, or don’t do, I’m going to heaven!

     It’s not so easy.  There are conditions.  Yes, conditions.  You must see yourself as God sees you – a sinner.  No excuses, no ‘I’m doing the best I can’, no ‘I’m not as bad as the next guy, even though I am bad’.  Also, you must be willing to trust Jesus Christ to save you.  Trust involves being willing to put your life on the line, and actually doing it.  You can believe the airplane can fly, but until you are willing to actually get in the plane and let it take off with you inside, you don’t really trust the plane.  Same with knowing that the blood of Jesus will wash away your sins, and his resurrection will make it possible for you to live with him for eternity.  As long as you think you are responsible or can do anything for your salvation, you aren’t trusting Jesus Christ.  You can’t flap your arms and help the plane stay in the air.  Neither can you do anything to help Jesus save you.

     Until you are willing to acknowledge and accept as life or death fact, and reach out and take the payment offered, without trying to help, you are still on your way to hell!  Repeating a bunch of words isn’t what saves you.  It’s transferring your sin and trust from yourself to Jesus Christ that saves you (repenting). 

If you’ve ‘said the prayer’ and there is no change in your attitude about God, no little voice inside that says ‘you did wrong’ when you cross the line the Bible draws about sin, no desire to know more about Jesus Christ, and you think that prayer has saved you, you’ve prayed the prayer that can send you to hell!
     The reason?  Because you think ‘once saved, always saved’.  Which, by the way, is true.  God said ‘have everlasting life’ and ‘is passed from death unto life’ – that’s forever - you get it, you got it.  The kicker is that you must be saved in the first place.  Are you?
     If you’ve been relying on a prayer you prayed, no matter your age when you said it, but there is no evidence in your life and heart to support such a claim, don’t just say yet another prayer.  Ask God to show you.  When you are convicted (you can’t get away from the thought that you need to be saved), then tell God that you are tired of leaning on yourself, and accept the payment Jesus made on the cross for your sins.  Jesus is waiting for you to acknowledge your doubts and fears, so he can give you peace and complete assurance.  And maybe the salvation you thought you had in the first place.  You’ll go to hell without it.