A Step of Faith/Before Death

Have you thought about what happens after you die? Do you have questions that keep recurring in your mind? We pray that this is answer some of those questions.

In your personal opinion... What do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven? Consider how the Bible answers this question.

It is a matter of FAITH.

F is for FORGIVENESS.

We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness. "In Him (meaning Jesus) we have redemption thought His blood, the forgiveness of our sins.) This is from the Bible in the first chapter of Ephesians, verse seven.

A is for AVAILABLE

Forgiveness Is Available For All. "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life". This is from the third chapter of John, verse sixteen.
Forgiveness Is Available But Not Automatic. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven". This is from the seventh chapter of Matthew, verse twenty-one.

I is for IMPOSSIBLE

It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.

Because of who He is: God is loving and just. His judgment is against sin. "For judgment is without mercy". This is from James 2:13.
Because of who we are: Every person is a sinner. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". This is from Romans 3:23.

But how can a sinful person enter heaven, when God allows no sin?

T is for Turn

Turn means repent.

Turn from something--sin and self. "but unless you repent, you will all perish" (Luke 13:3).
Turn to Someone: trust Christ only. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him fromt he dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

H is for HEAVEN

Heaven is eternal life.

Here. . . "I (Jesus) have come that they may have life and have it in abundance" (John 10:10).
Hereafter. . . "If I (Jesus) 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).
How. . . can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as your Savior and Lord? By trusting in Christ and asking Him for forgiveness.

This is done by taking the step of faith described by another meaning of FAITH: Forsaking All I Trust Him.

Now tell someone else about the important decision you have made. Ask a friend to contact a pastor to come and talk to you, or ask the nurse or Hospice nurse to have the chaplain come and see you as soon as possible.