God created us as eternal creatures. We have a distinct beginning but our spirit and soul continues on when our physical being dies. So what happens when you die? The Scriptures are clear that our eternity will be spent either in heaven with God or in hell forever apart from God.
So, what will be your destination after physical death?
If you don’t know, please continue reading about a promise that God offers us if we believe and repent.
If you have just done this, the Bible says that you have forgiveness from your sins and eternal life!
So, what will be your destination after physical death?
If you don’t know, please continue reading about a promise that God offers us if we believe and repent.
- The Bible says that "...the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 6:23). It needs to be a gift because we cannot earn eternal life. The only way to obtain eternal life is to be perfect, ("Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48) in all our ways, but we know we mess up. Because of our natural inclination to do wrong, inborn in every human at birth, we are unable to meet God's standard of perfection. Messing up is called sin. The word picture of sin is, "missing the mark" that is the bullseye. The bullseye that God requires is never sinning; we must never, ever miss the mark if we are to gain eternal life in heaven with God!
- Unfortunately, try as we might everyone, even the most saintly person, falls short and misses the bullseye. Romans 3:23 tells us "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Sin is breaking God's law as outlined in the Ten Commandments. Jesus expanded the understanding of God's law by teaching wrong attitudes also cause us to miss the mark. We may never murder someone but Jesus says if we hate someone it is sin. We may never commit adultery but if we lust after someone Jesus says we have committed adultery in our heart and that is sin.
- The Bible says that because of our sin we deserve death, but He isn't talking about physical death. He's talking about spiritual death. Spiritual death is being forever separated from God and His goodness.
- "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) The only way to obtain eternal life in heaven with God is to live a perfect life but we are unable to do that. We are doomed! But God in His love and mercy decreed that if there ever was a perfect man, that man could die on behalf of all of us. What a conundrum! It takes a perfect man to be able to die for the sins of all mankind but none of us, born of a husband and wife, can be perfect. That's why Jesus came. Jesus is God Incarnate. That fancy term means that God, through Jesus, was born as a baby through a spiritual miracle of birth between the Holy Spirit and a young girl named Mary. God became flesh through human birth. Because He was God He could live a perfectly sinless life. Because He was a man, a human, He could die on our behalf.
- When Jesus was crucified on a cross by the Romans, He took the sins of everybody that had ever lived, everybody then alive, and everybody who would ever live, on Himself. He was figuratively a sacrificial lamb and a scapegoat for us! He died with our sins upon Him and he took them to the grave. But, because He was God He was able to defeat death and come back to life. He was resurrected and our sins were left in the grave! It's amazing and hard to understand but it's true!
- WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE? It's as easy as A,B,C!
A. Acknowledge that you fall short of God's standard, that is you sin.
B. Believe that Jesus is God's Son, and that He died for you by taking your sins upon Himself
C. Commit your life to God that you will learn His ways and do your best to do as He says.
If you have just done this, the Bible says that you have forgiveness from your sins and eternal life!
- "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..." (Acts 16:31)
- "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door; I will come in to him..." (Revelation 3:20)
- "...with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation...for whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
- Tell someone! It may be a family member or friend who you know follows Jesus. You may call and let the Pastor of this church know.
- Be baptized. Baptism is a symbolic act that testifies to the world that you have made the decision to follow Christ. Baptism doesn't save you. We are baptized in obedience to our Lord's command.
- Worship: Find a Bible teaching church to help you grow, Read God's Word, the Bible, and pray; talk to Him regularly.
- Fellowship: Be around Christians who will help you grow in your faith.
- Witness: Tell others what Jesus Christ did for you!