Countless people will assure you Heaven is your default destination, or the reward for working hard or avoiding certain sins. This is false. Salvation comes only through Jesus.
Still, the question remains: how can we possibly know God, and be confident we’ll go to Heaven, not Hell? The apostle John said, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, emphasis added). But before we can live with God forever, something must radically change.
So we can know for sure before we leave this world that we will live “happily ever after.” It’s not merely a fairy tale—it’s what Jesus bought with His own blood.
Our Problem, God’s Solution
STEP 1
“God created mankind in his own image...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:27, 31
God made humans to have a delightful relationship with Him, and that’s still what He offers: “You [God] make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; …pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
But when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3), sin poisoned the world. Now we are all born with the desire to do things our own way, not God’s.
STEP 2
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Through sin, we forfeit the happiness a relationship with the holy and good God ensures (Isaiah 59:2). The result is spiritual death—separation from God now and, after death, in Hell, which Jesus said is “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:45). Physical death ends our opportunity to enter into a relationship with God (Hebrews 9:27).
STEP 3
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Absolutely nothing we do will restore us to God. He says even our “good deeds” are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). So Jesus—fully God and fully man—came to deliver us from death and give us everlasting life (John 3:16). “God demonstrates His own love toward us…while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. When He made the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word translated “it is finished” was written across certificates of debt when they were canceled. It meant “paid in full.” On the third day, Jesus walked out of His tomb, proving He’d conquered sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
STEP 4
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
God’s greatest gift is a restored relationship with Him (John 3:36). Jesus, the gift and giver, is the only way to God. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
STEP 5
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
To receive full forgiveness, we must admit our sin. Romans 10:10 says, “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Justification means Jesus makes us right with God. Then we affirm to others that we follow Him.
STEP 6
“Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24
Jesus freely offers the deliverance we need and the happiness and fulfillment we crave: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). When we accept His gift of eternal life, God’s Holy Spirit indwells us and helps us obey Him (2 Timothy 1:14).
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). This is the “good news [gospel] of happiness” (Isaiah 52:7).
“This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). The essence of eternal life—the good news of salvation—is to know, love, follow, worship, serve, and enjoy Jesus. It’s all about Him.
To believe in Jesus is to depend on Him for what He promised us, and trust His love, proven by the death He died for us. Once we know Jesus, “in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
Make things right with God. Now. Don’t put it off. Confess your sins. Accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to deliver people from spiritual darkness.
If you understand what God has done for you, tell Him. There’s no magic in these words, but they may help convey what’s in your heart: “Jesus, I confess that I do not measure up to Your perfect standard. Because You died for my sins, I gratefully accept your forgiveness and will seek to follow You wholeheartedly. Thank You for paying the price to give me eternal life.”
What's Next?
Once you’ve acknowledged Jesus as your Savior, join a community of Jesus-followers. A Bible-believing, people-loving church will instruct, support, and guide you. Churches aren’t perfect, but we all need each other (Hebrews 10:25).
Seek out people who know God’s Word and can help you grow in your relationship with Jesus! Read the Bible, talk to God, share your good news, and gather regularly with God’s people.
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
If you have any questions or need help finding a church, contact us.
God’s offer of salvation is the best news there has ever been or ever will be! I hope you’ll share this article with others who need to hear about it. (If you’re interested in handing out a printed version, EPM offers a beautiful full-color brochure.)
We also have a version of this article available in 21 other languages. Please pass these along to those you know who speak these languages, or to missionaries serving those who do:
