Bible Studies

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

by Christopher Combs
12/20/09
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There are two possible answers to this question. Either you will spend eternity in heaven in the presence of God or you will spend eternity totally separated from God in the lake of fire. Many people believe they will be taken to heaven because they are good and have done good works, in this life or because they believe in God. Some believe they are going to heaven after they die because they attend mass or church services for many years because they are a member of a church or religious organization, because they have been water baptized, or simply because they have honestly tried to live a good life.

There are so many out there in the world who are lost and don't even know it, they believe they are going in the right direction and doing all the right things in life but they trust in their flawed thinking, and in doing so they make a terrible mistake that could cost them their very souls. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 16:25).

The majority of all the people on the earth are choosing the wide road that leads to death and hell. In Matthew's gospel, our Lord speaks about two paths that people can choose to take in their lives, the narrow gate or the wide gate, and He advises us to take the narrow gate. (Matt. 7:13, 14) NIV "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many (unbelievers) enter through it." Verse 14 "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few (believers) find it."

If you go through your life and you reject the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be condemned, your name will not be written in the Book of Life and you will be cast into the lake of fire at the final judgment which is called the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:15).

In John's book, we find why the Lord Jesus Christ was sent to the earth: He was sent to SAVE mankind from spiritual death and eternal damnation.

(John 3:17) "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved".

If you reject the Lord Jesus Christ in your lifetime and you fail to believe in Him and you fail to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross bearing your sins, was buried in the tomb, then rose from the dead, then you are condemned already.

(John 3: 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.'

If you ignore Jesus Christ your whole life and think that it is just foolishness to believe and trust in Him, then that is the same as rejecting Him and you will be condemned for your rejection of Christ and cast into the lake of fire at the final judgment.

The Bible says that Christ will be revealed from heaven with His angels. KJV "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

This judgment is the payment that you owe for your sin. "For the wages of sin is death;" (Romans 6:23a). Wages are something we earn so by our sin we all have earned death.

If we all are sinners and sin is deserving of death, then how can anyone get to heaven? The answer is the second half of the verse in (Romans 6: 23b) "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". This verse says that eternal life is a gift from God. Can you earn a gift? Do you have to pay anything or do anything to receive a gift? Absolutely not, it is free. We cannot earn eternal life, it is a gift and we have to either accept that gift or reject it. (Ephesians 2: 8-9)  says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Most people throughout the world are only hoping that they will be allowed to enter heaven, they do not know for sure if they will make it to heaven or not. How can you know for sure if you have been good enough to make it into heaven? The answer is that being good in this life has nothing to do with your eternal destiny.

But the Bible teaches that you can know that you have eternal life. In the book of John in the bible it says: "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" (1 John 5: 13). This is not a hope so, maybe so, type of knowing, it is an absolute surety.

Your good behavior, your human righteousness, or the very best you can be is not good enough for God. The Bible teaches that no one is good enough to make it into heaven. (Rom. 3:10) "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:"

Righteousness is defined as 'free from any guilt or wrong; being in accordance with what is just'. Righteousness is God's standard of perfection and according to the Bible, no one meets this high standard. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Rom. 3: 23). The three categories of sin are (1) Mental Attitude Sin (2) Verbal Sin (3) Overt Sin (action).

If you have ever lusted or coveted anything or been angry with anyone in your mind as just a thought, then those are mental attitude sins. Disobedience toward God is sin and even if you don't admit it, you know that you have sinned. Even as a child, you disobeyed your parents, this was an overt sin. Read (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21). Have you ever lied? Then you have committed a verbal sin. (Ex. 20:16). In (Isaiah 64:6) it says: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away".

The absolute very best that mankind has to offer is not good enough to meet God's standard of perfection. It doesn't matter if you are good or if you think you are better than your friends, your family, or anyone else, you have committed mental attitude sins, verbal sins, and overt sins in your life. You are still a sinner and you do not meet God's standard of perfection and you are unworthy to enter into heaven. You will one day be judged by God.

Since eternal life cannot be earned and since it is a gift from God, then it must be accepted as a gift by men and women. God has shown the whole human race grace and mercy.

In other words, as sinners, we did not deserve anything, yet God in His gracious love still showed us undeserving favor by sending His own Son to die on the cross and pay the price and make the atonement for the sins of the whole world. Grace is defined as 'unmerited favor', meaning that we did nothing to earn His favor. Mercy is defined as 'grace in action', and so God has taken action, reached out to us, and shown sinful humanity both grace and mercy. "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" (John 3:16).

Faith is simply trusting and believing what God has said. Faith is taking God at His word. God's love is so great and awesome toward the human race that He gave His own Son as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. "But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). This means that the Lord Jesus Christ, who never committed any sin, died in our place. The payment for sin is death and Jesus Christ has already paid that payment for you. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians. 5:21). The Lord Jesus Christ 'knew no sin' since He was God and is God, He never committed any sin. (Titus 2:13) "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of THE GREAT GOD and our Saviour Jesus Christ;".

In (1 Peter 2: 21-24) Verse 21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" Verse 22 "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth".

Since He was not a sinner, He did not owe the payment for sin, which is death. But He chose to go to the cross and bear all our sins and die for us, in our place, to pay our debt so that we could be justified and declared 'righteous' by God.

The very essence of the gospel message or the (good news), is found in this verse in (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that (1)Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that (2)he was buried, and that (3)he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" These verses in Corinthians show that the Lord Jesus Christ did not die for His sins but for our sins. The Lord Jesus did not have any sins of His own to pay for, yet He chose to pay for your sins and mine. This is the greatest demonstration of God's love for us. He died for us so we could have righteousness and eternal life as a gift. Not only did Christ die for us, but He also 'rose again the third day according to the scriptures'.

Buddha in the religion of Buddhism died and he never rose from the dead, Mohammed died and he never rose from the dead, their bones lie in their tombs. But when Christ was bodily resurrected from the dead. He was seen by over 500 witnesses including the 12 disciples in the days following His resurrection. (1 Cor. 15:6) "After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;".

The Lord Jesus Christ's physical and bodily resurrection proved His victory over sin and death. He purchased the same victory for us. This proved that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly God since He conquered sin and death. Because of His resurrection, God can offer you newness of life and justification. In (Romans 4:25) 'Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 6:4) it says, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism (identification) into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

So how are you supposed to receive this gift from God? The answer is very simple and found in this passage of scripture. (Ephesians 1:13) "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,"

For all human beings, three very basic things are easy to understand and easy to do: (1) Hearing (2) Believing (3) Trusting. (1) Hearing: Now you have heard the gospel or 'good news' about how Christ died for your sins and that salvation is a gift from God. (2) Believing: Do you believe the good news? Do you understand that you are a sinner and that you cannot earn salvation? Do you understand that you will be judged and cast into the lake of fire in eternity if you reject the Lord Jesus Christ and the gift God offers?

Do you now understand that the Lord Jesus Christ gave his own life for you so you can have eternal life with Him? (3) Trusting: Most people believe intellectually in their mind that Jesus Christ died, but many are still trying to please God and get to heaven through their works. When you trust the gospel or 'good news' it means that you have decided to completely rely on the work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross and that you completely trust His sacrifice as a full payment for your sins.

This simple faith and trust is all that is needed to become saved and have eternal life. God looks upon the hearts of men and women. Doing good works on your own or even walking down a church aisle is not what saves you but only that which is truly in your heart, and God sees that simple faith in your mind and heart.

The seven most solemn words in this life are 'God have mercy on me a sinner'. That is all that is necessary for you to become saved and receive eternal life, is to just repeat those simple words and truly mean them in the heart of your mind.

If you are not sure how to talk to God or how to pray to Him, then here is a simple prayer for you to pray and use as a guide:

Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I am a sinner. I know that as a sinner I am condemned and I deserve death. I know that I cannot save myself or work my way into heaven by my goodness or works. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross and paid the debt so that I might have eternal life as a gift. I believe that you rose from the dead on the third day and provided for my justification. I have decided to trust in you as my Lord and Savior and receive the gift of salvation and eternal life.

Thank you for dying for me and for providing me with the gift of eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and placed your trust in Christ, you now have eternal life, and no man, no creature, nothing can ever take that away from you. (Romans 8:38-39) 'For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

The Bible says that you are now a member of the Body of Christ and that you have been marked and sealed by God the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13) "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,"

The word 'sealed' means: 'to confirm, authenticate, and place beyond all doubt'. Now with confidence and absolute surety, you can say: 'I have obtained mercy and I now have eternal life and I will live in heaven forever and forever, for all eternity in the presence of God'.