Eternal Life: Do You Have It?

Eternal Life: Do You Have It?

Author: Doug Sharp
Subject: Theology

Is Heaven Your Destination?

It is the ultimate question. How can I know if I am going to heaven? You, like every person on this planet, are faced with your final destiny. Where will you spend eternity?

Some people have the idea that you won’t know until you face your final judgment. Fortunately, God has placed in the Bible specific scriptures that will give you assurance of your salvation. I hope that these simple tests laid out by the word of God will help you know that you are going to heaven, or if not, give you clear directions how to receive the greatest gift ever given.

I John 5:10-15

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath a witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Indicators of Eternal Life from I John 5
Verse 10 You will have a witness in yourself.
Verse 12 You will have the Son of God in your life.
Verse 13 You will know that you have eternal life.
Verse 14 You will have confidence that your prayers are being heard.
Verse 15 Your prayers will regularly be answered.
I Corinthians 12:3

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Indicators of Eternal Life from I Corinthians 12
Verse 3 Your speech will honor God: there will be no accusations against Jesus.

You will call Jesus your Lord.

If the Holy Spirit is not helping you, you will not be able to call Jesus your Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Indicators of Eternal Life from Ephesians 2
Verse 8 By grace, you are saved through faith.

That faith is not of yourself.

That faith is a gift of God.

Verse 9 That gift of God is not earned by any personal work that you do.

If you brag that you have earned eternal life through any work that you have done, it indicates that you likely do not have eternal life.

Verse 10 It is obvious, though, that doing good works is part of the plan of the Christian. It is an expectation from God that a natural result of our salvation and the gift of eternal life would be that we would want to serve Him with all of our heart.
You Likely Don’t Have Eternal Life…
  • If you do not have a witness within yourself.
  • If you have never invited the Son of God, Jesus Christ, into your life.
  • If you don’t know if you have eternal life.
  • If you don’t have the confidence that God hears your prayers.
  • If you never had prayers answered.
  • If your speech dishonors God, or Jesus Christ. This includes swearing, cursing, using God’s name in vain.
  • If you cannot say that Jesus is your Lord.
  • If you do not have faith that Jesus Christ can get you into heaven.
  • If you are trying to make it into heaven based upon the good things that you do.
  • If you are boastful and proud of your accomplishments, and think that they earn you favor with God. Proverbs 27:1-2 says, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

The Bible is Full of Warnings

The entire intent of the Bible is to point the way to eternal life and salvation for all that would receive it. The essay I have written about Romans chapter 1, Reversing Direction on the Reprobate Road, gives another list of indicators that are clearly spelled out by the word of God. They include:

  • Refusal to acknowledge God as Creator.
  • Looking for an excuse.
  • Being unthankful.
  • Becoming captivated with vain imaginations.
  • Having a heart that is given over to darkness.
  • Professing to be wise, but being foolish.
  • Worshipping nature, idols, the works of your hands.
  • Giving over to lust and sexual sin.
  • Not liking to retain God in your knowledge.
The results of this slippery slide are spelled out in Romans 1:26-32.
 

Are You In Need of Salvation? Here’s How.

John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the ligth, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Verse 16 God loves you.

God does not want you to perish.

God wants you have eternal life.

God has made a way, and that way is to believe on his Son.

Verse 17 God didn’t send his son to condemn the world, Jesus came to save us.
Verse 18 If we believe (trust in, rely upon) Jesus Christ, we receive no condemnation.

If you do not believe on Jesus Christ, you are condemned already. (Everyone has violated even their own personal standards some time in their life).

Verse 19 Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

Man naturally gravitates toward the darkness as the result of sin in their lives.

Verse 20 Man hates to expose their lives to the light. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are an open book, allowing God to examine every nook and cranny of their minds and hearts.
Verse 21 If you are in the light, Jesus Christ, you will allow him to prompt and direct everything you do. Your deeds will begin with him, and he will accomplish them through you. He will direct your path.
Receive Christ
You will receive Christ through prayer. Prayer is talking with God. Say this to him:

“Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I ask you to be my Lord and Savior. Come into my life. I put my trust in you completely.”

Things to Understand About the Plan of Salvation
1. Everyone needs it. Romans 3:10-12

10 There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

2. We inherited the sin nature from Adam. Romans 5:12

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all have sinned.

3. God intends for us to have an abundant life. John 10:10

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

4. The abundant life comes when Jesus is on the throne of your life. John 14:12-14

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Now That You Have Accepted Christ
Read

The New Life: The Start of Something Wonderful by Dave Williams

(entire book on-line)

 

 

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