Can Eternal Life Be Certain?
Many would say that no one can be sure of eternal life. Some trust that their good works will take them to Heaven. But what does the Bible teach?
GOD’S DESIRE
John 3:17, “For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” God’s desire is to save every individual person. “The world” includes you!
OUR CONDITION
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” In that same chapter, God says, "...there is none righteous (perfect), no, not one." Every person has sinned against God, and not one person deserves eternal life!
What Is Sin? Sin is anything we do that violates God’s perfect law: lying, stealing, lusting, coveting, etc. When measured by God’s law, everyone stands guilty.
OUR SIN BRINGS CONDEMNATION
God pronounces His judgment in Romans 6:23, "For the wages (payment) of sin is death...” This death is not only speaking about physical death, but also Hell for eternity (Revelation 21:8, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.") Hell is a real place. The Bible says in Luke 12:5, “Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell...” and in Hebrews 9:27, "...as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." We must not just fear death, but we must fear our inescapable meeting with God. As sinners, we must admit that God as the Judge can justly cast us into Hell.
But the Good News! Romans 6:23, “...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ...”
THE WORK JESUS ACCOMPLISHED
Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God showed His love to us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. Jesus paid our sin debt by taking our sins and becoming our substitute on the cross. He paid for ALL of our sins. We can choose to pay for our own sins and go to Hell, or by faith trust in Jesus Christ, who already paid for our sins.
HOW IS A PERSON SAVED?
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Grace - Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. We don’t deserve forgiveness for our sins and a home in Heaven.
Faith - Faith is believing and trusting in Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It is the grace of God that can save you, and it is by faith that you can receive that grace. God is clear to point out that it is not of works. Many try to live right, but will never go to heaven, because they are trusting in themselves and not Christ alone. If a religious life of good works could save you, then Christ would be dead in vain. Galatians 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
WHAT MUST YOU DO?
Romans 10:9-10, “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
You Must Believe - 1. You are a sinner. 2. You deserve Hell because of your sins. 3. Jesus Christ paid your sin debt on the cross. 4. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. I John 5:11, “...God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Repent and Be Saved - Sincerely pray and confess to God that you as a sinner deserve Hell. Place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ who shed His precious blood for your sins. Ask Him to be your Saviour now! Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
GOD’S DESIRE
John 3:17, “For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” God’s desire is to save every individual person. “The world” includes you!
OUR CONDITION
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” In that same chapter, God says, "...there is none righteous (perfect), no, not one." Every person has sinned against God, and not one person deserves eternal life!
What Is Sin? Sin is anything we do that violates God’s perfect law: lying, stealing, lusting, coveting, etc. When measured by God’s law, everyone stands guilty.
OUR SIN BRINGS CONDEMNATION
God pronounces His judgment in Romans 6:23, "For the wages (payment) of sin is death...” This death is not only speaking about physical death, but also Hell for eternity (Revelation 21:8, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.") Hell is a real place. The Bible says in Luke 12:5, “Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell...” and in Hebrews 9:27, "...as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." We must not just fear death, but we must fear our inescapable meeting with God. As sinners, we must admit that God as the Judge can justly cast us into Hell.
But the Good News! Romans 6:23, “...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ...”
THE WORK JESUS ACCOMPLISHED
Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth (showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God showed His love to us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. Jesus paid our sin debt by taking our sins and becoming our substitute on the cross. He paid for ALL of our sins. We can choose to pay for our own sins and go to Hell, or by faith trust in Jesus Christ, who already paid for our sins.
HOW IS A PERSON SAVED?
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Grace - Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. We don’t deserve forgiveness for our sins and a home in Heaven.
Faith - Faith is believing and trusting in Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It is the grace of God that can save you, and it is by faith that you can receive that grace. God is clear to point out that it is not of works. Many try to live right, but will never go to heaven, because they are trusting in themselves and not Christ alone. If a religious life of good works could save you, then Christ would be dead in vain. Galatians 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
WHAT MUST YOU DO?
Romans 10:9-10, “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
You Must Believe - 1. You are a sinner. 2. You deserve Hell because of your sins. 3. Jesus Christ paid your sin debt on the cross. 4. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. I John 5:11, “...God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Repent and Be Saved - Sincerely pray and confess to God that you as a sinner deserve Hell. Place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ who shed His precious blood for your sins. Ask Him to be your Saviour now! Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
After Salvation, What Should Be My Next Step?
If you have just placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to take you to Heaven, we would love to hear from you! Know that you can never lose your salvation. (John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life...")
After you are saved, there are five things needed for spiritual growth:
1. Follow the Lord in believer's baptism. (Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized...")
2. Join and faithfully attend a Bible-preaching church. (Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is...")
3. Pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing.")
4. Read your Bible. (1 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.")
5. Witness. (Acts 22:15, "For thou shalt be His witness unto all men...")
You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay.
2 Timothy 1:8, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord..."
If you have just placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to take you to Heaven, we would love to hear from you! Know that you can never lose your salvation. (John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life...")
After you are saved, there are five things needed for spiritual growth:
1. Follow the Lord in believer's baptism. (Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized...")
2. Join and faithfully attend a Bible-preaching church. (Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is...")
3. Pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing.")
4. Read your Bible. (1 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.")
5. Witness. (Acts 22:15, "For thou shalt be His witness unto all men...")
You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay.
2 Timothy 1:8, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord..."
