“Do you believe in heaven?”

Do you believe you will go there?”

“How do you know?”

A list of typical answers:

“I am basically a good person”

“I don’t smoke more than 1 pack a day”

“I exercise”

“I am dependable at work”

“I made my boyfriend get tested for aids.”

Romans 3:10, 23

10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the

glory of God,”

BASED ON THESE SCRIPTURES ONE COULD SAY;

- So much for being basically

good, or keeping a list.

- How then do we get to heaven?

- How can a person have confidence in his/her salvation?

We might be tempted to

conclude that we have no right to be

bold or confident toward our salvation.

But the scriptures call us to a hope that

anchors our souls, as we expect to

receive the inheritance God has provided

for us.

Hebrews 6:19

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

God calls on us to be ready to

boldly express to others the

reason for the hope that lies

within us.

1 Peter 3:15

15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always

be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks

you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But

do this with gentleness and respect,

What is the reason for the hope that is in you?

Matthew 27:38-41

38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads

40 and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him

Matthew 27:42-44

42 He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, `I am the Son of God.' "

44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”

Luke 23:34-37

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know

what they are doing.“ And they divided up his clothes by

casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at

him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he

is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.“

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered

him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews,

save yourself."

It wasn’t long before the criminals became divided in their opinion of Jesus.

Luke 23:39-41

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?

41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.“ (VS 42)

What was on his list?

Can I be saved like the thief on the cross?

What right does he have to ask God for forgiveness?

… He has the same right that you and I have.

Ephesians 2:8,9

8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–

9 not by works, so that no one can boast. “

The basis of our hope is no different

than his.

However, He Lived and Died Under The Old Covenant. The New Covenant Came Into Effect After The Death of Christ.

Hebrews 9:15-17

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.”

Trusting in Jesus Does Not Erase My Responsibility to Obey Him-
It Demands it!

Romans 5:1-2

“ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 1:4-5

“ … and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”

Real Faith, Saving Faith Is Always OBEDIENT FAITH!

James 2: 20-24

20 “You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith

without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor

Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he

offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. “

cont.

James 2:20-24

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says,

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited

to him as righteousness,“ and he was

called God's friend. 24 You see that a

person is justified by what he does and not

by faith alone. “

Faith (trust) in Jesus includes obedience to the faith (message) revealed by Jesus.

Mark 16:15-16

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. “

Colossians 1:21-23

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

Acts 2:38-41

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”