Answers

By   •   September 20, 2004   •   Topics:

Q:

How can I be sure I'm going to heaven when I die? My aunt died not long ago, and it got me thinking about life after death. I've always tried to be a good person, but if someone were to ask me if I knew for sure that I am going to heaven, I'd have to say no, I'm not sure.


A:

We can never be saved because of what we do; we can only be saved because of what Jesus Christ has already done for us. Let me explain.

Our greatest problem can be put in one word: sin. Sin cuts us off from God, and sin also keeps us out of heaven. But how can we get rid of our sins? We can’t erase them or cause them to disappear by ourselves; we don’t have the power. The only way we can get rid of our sins is for someone to come along and take them away for us.

And that is exactly what Jesus Christ did for us. We are weighed down by the burden of our sins—but Jesus took that burden upon Himself when He died on the cross for us. To put it another way, He took the punishment we deserve when He went to the cross in our place. The Bible says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

What must you do? Simply believe that Christ has taken away your sins, and then receive Him into your heart and life. The Bible’s promise is for you: “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Become God’s child today by asking Christ to come into your life.