Prison Ministry (Are You Going To Heaven?)
Read 1 John 5: 11-13 -This describes how someone can get to Heaven
Let's begin by looking at the words GOD and MAN. What kind of words can you use to describe GOD? What kind of words can you use to describe MAN?
Let's see what the Bible says about God and man. Remember that the Bible is 100% the Word of God - 2 Timothy 3:16.
Let's first compare God and man as far as their MORAL STANDARDS.
GOD - Matthew 5:48 - Your Father in Heaven is Perfect. MAN - Romans 3:23 - For all have Sinned.
GOD - Psalm 106:1, 145:9 - GOD is Good. MAN - Romans 3:12 - There is none who does good, No, not
One.
GOD - Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 145: 17, Lev. 19: 2, Hosea 11:9 - God is Holy (Totally sinless and pure). MAN -
2 Timothy 3:2 - Man is Unholy.
GOD - Jer. 12:1, Psalm 116: 5, 119: 42, Romans 9:14 - God is Righteous (He does everything right).
MAN - Isaiah 64: 6 - All our Righteousness are like Filthy Rags.
GOD - 1 Peter 1:17, Romans 2:6, Col. 3:25, Psalm 19: 9 - God is Absolutely Impartial in Judgment.
MAN - Eccles. 7:20 - There is not a just man upon the earth.
GOD - Hebrews 6: 18, Numbers 23: 19 - God is unable to Lie. MAN - Jer. 17:9 - Man's heart is deceitful
above all things.
GOD - 1 John 4:8, 16, Jer. 31: 3, 2 Cor. 13:11 - GOD is LOVE. MAN - 2 Timothy 3:2 - Men are Lovers
of themselves.
The Bible accurately sums up man's condition when it says, "Every man at his best state is altogether vanity (empty). Psalm 39:5 (KJV).
The Bible however shows that man was not created by God to be this way. Genesis 1:27. God originally made man to have fellowship with Him, but when man rebelled (sinned), this relationship was shattered. Genesis 3:8. Since that time man's rebellious sin has contaminated every part of his life. Romans 3: 10-18. In the comparisons between God and man, man's sin has left an immeasurable gap between himself and his Creator. Isa. 59: 2.
All man made religions teach that the solution to man's need lies in his own ability to be good enough to have a relationship with God. But to God, good enough means being perfect, and all of man's attempts to be accepted on his own merits have left him far short of God's required standard - PERFECTION. Matthew 5: 48.
The Bible says, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23.
If man desires to have a relationship with a perfectly Holy God, he can not come to Him with sin in his life and hope to be accepted. As in an earthly courtroom, we would have no respect for a judge who would let guilty criminals go free. In the same way, our GOD, who is an absolutely fair judge, could never overlook the outright rebellion of His own creation.
A just punishment had to be given for the crime committed. From God's all-wise perspective, every sinner (or all mankind) deserved death (eternal separation form His presence). Matthew 7:23, 25:41.
In light of this problem, how do you personally hope to get to heaven? The solution is this - God devised a plan that placed the death penalty for sin upon the only person in the universe who could take man's place: GOD HIMSELF, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
What did Jesus Christ do? He Bridged the Gap. He became 100% man while remaining 100% GOD. Jesus also personally experienced every temptation that any man has ever known, and yet He remained completely sinless - Hebrews 4:15. Though Jesus didn't deserve it, He lovingly took the punishment for man's sins upon Himself, providing an opportunity for all mankind to go free. 1 Peter 2: 21-24.
100% GOD - Read Scriptures - John 20: 28, John 1: 1, 14, Isa. 9:6, 1 Timothy 3:16, John 10:30, 14: 7-9, Phil. 2: 5-6, Hebrews 1:8
100% MAN - Read Scriptures - 1Timothy 2:5, Phil. 2:8, 2 Cor. 8:9, Isa. 52:14, Phil. 2:7, 1 Cor. 1:18, Isa. 53:3, Isa. 53: 5, Isa. 53: 7, 1 Peter 2:23, Isa. 52: 14, 2 Cor. 5:21.
How do we receive what Jesus Christ did for us? BY FAITH - Believing or Completely Trusting. Read Ephesians 2: 8-9. We have seen that a human being could never earn God's forgiveness. We all deserve eternal punishment. But because Jesus died in our place and then proved that He was more powerful than sin and death by rising form the dead, we can now receive the gift of salvation. We receive salvation through faith in what Jesus Christ has done. Our good works are hopelessly insufficient. We must put our complete trust in what Christ accomplished for us through His death and Resurrection.
The fact that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead is proof that Christ was successful in dying for the sins of all mankind. Read 1 Peter 1:21 (Phillips).
Jesus clearly described eternal life when He said to His Father - read John 17: 3.
So eternal life is getting to know, or having a personal relationship with God the Father and God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It begins here on earth, and continues throughout eternity in heaven.
Do you want this relationship? Here are 8 Biblical steps showing how to get off to the right START. God knows that you do not have the ability to accomplish these 8 steps without His help. He only asks that you be willing. He will supply the power you need. Are you willing to…
5. Totally commit yourself to obeying Christ every day for the rest of your life? Read Matthew 16:
25.
If after reading the above 8 areas you are not willing to yield to God in any one of them, we recommend that you do not commit yourself to Christ until you are prepared to do it on His terms.
As in the earthly marriage, a commitment without carefully counting the cost will eventually end in disappointment and failure.
If, on the other hand, you are ready to make this commitment, we encourage you to begin your relationship with Christ in prayer.
Sincerely pray the following prayer - do this out loud - Romans 10: 9-10 Lord Jesus…I want to stop trusting in myself, and what I can do, and start trusting in You, and what you have already done when You died for me on the cross. I know that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins. I ask you to forgive me, and I invite you to come and live inside me. I want you to be my Savior, and my Lord, which means being #1 in my life. I want to repent and turn away from everything you and the Bible call sin. I totally commit myself to obeying you everyday for the rest of my life. Thank You Jesus
In order for your new personal relationship with God to grow, it is essential that you -