Our Message to You

Here are two important questions
only you can answer!

1. Have you come to the place in life where you know for sure that if you were to die today you would live with God forever in heaven?

2. Just suppose you die today. You find yourself before God. He says to you: "Why should I permit you to live with Me forever in heaven? " What would you say?

You should know for sure that eternal life in heaven is not

• obtained by your own effort...
• deserved by your own goodness...
• secured by your personal merit.

But eternal life in heaven is

• given by God as an absolute gift!
• This is God's amazing GRACE

GRACE

Your answer to the question: "Why should I permit you to live with Me forever in heaven" is determined by your understanding of GRACE.

Grace- - What is GRACE?

Grace is something you receive when you don't deserve it.

Some Bible passages that explain GRACE are:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. " Ephesians 2:8

"And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. " John 1:16--17

MAN

Further, your answer to that question is determined by your understanding of yourself.

Man is a sinner! You are a sinner!

You are a sinner for two reasons:

One-- you are born with a nature that is full of sin in all its parts.

Two-- because of this sinful nature you do sinful acts which are contrary to God's will.

To obtain eternal life with God one must keep the will of God perfectly. Therefore your sin prohibits you from securing eternal life with God.

The Bible has something to say about our inability to merit eternal life:

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way". Isaiah 53:6

"None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one. " Romans 3:10-12

GOD

Further, your answer to that question is determined by your understanding of God.

God is a just God.

Because He is just He must deal with sin.

God is also very patient with us.

He does not want to punish us as we deserve to be punished.

He always deals with us in loving-kindness.

The Bible reveals God to us.

"For God shows no partiality. " Romans 2:11.

"Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? " Romans 2:4.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. " John 3:16-17.

JESUS CHRIST

Further, your answer to that question is determined by your understanding of Jesus Christ

He is both God and man in one Person.

He is God become man in order that for once a man might live the perfect life.

Whoever lives the perfect life may enter eternal life in heaven.

But instead of by passing death, Jesus took our sin upon Himself and died full of our sin and thereby deserved, instead of eternal life, eternal death

For whoever sins must die.

But in dying Jesus did not stay dead.

He, being also God, rose up from the dead and showed that God has supreme power over death.

Read what the Bible says about Jesus Christ:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. " John 1:1, 14.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.' " John 14:6.

FAITH

Finally, you answer to that question is determined by your understanding of how you obtain eternal life.

God wants us to admit our sin and acknowledge that sin separates us from God. When we ask God to forgive us our sin, He does so because His Son paid the penalty for our sin and died for us. God gives us eternal life.

You can receive eternal life and victory over death by faith. Faith believes that the Father accepted the payment for all sins and was pleased and satisfied with it by raising His Son to life again. When you believe that Jesus died and rose again for you, then you are a Christian who places your confidence and trust in Jesus Christ for your eternal life.

The bible is very clear about faith in Jesus. It says . . .

"So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. " Romans 10:17.

"These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. " John 20:31.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. " Acts 16:31.

Now let's go back to those first two important questions.

1. Have you come to the place in life where you know for sure that if you were to die today you would live with God forever in heaven?

Would you change your answer any?

Remember the second question?

2. Just suppose you die today. You find yourself before God. He says to you: "Why should I permit you to live with Me forever in heaven? " What would you say?

Would you change the answer to that question any?

The Holy Spirit working in your heart through God's Word brings you to the point where you see your sin, confess it to God, look to Him for forgiveness, desire to live a Christian life, and desire to be baptized to wash away your sin. It is the Holy spirit who brings you to faith.

When you know that Jesus is your Savior, you can be sure that God has been at work bringing you to faith. You are a child of God. You are a believer in Christ. Your sins are forgiven. The Holy Spirit lives in you. You can be sure you have eternal life with God by the grace of God.

Thank God for giving you the gift of eternal life and the faith to know it. You can thank God for this faith through prayer. Does this prayer express your gratitude and faith?

Lord God, heavenly Father,

You have been patient with me. I did not know You and what You have done for me. Forgive me for my ignorance. Forgive me for willfully breaking Your wishes.

Because You have sent Your Holy Spirit into my heart I believe Your Son is my Savior. Thank You for the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of all my sin. whenever I die I will live with You forever in heaven because Jesus died for me.

I give my life to You. with Your help I want to do Your will. May other people come to know You as their Lord through me.

This prayer is offered in my Savior's name. Amen.

Why are we asking so many questions?

There is so much we would like to hear from you and so much we would like to share with you!

Let's keep talking!

Contact us if you would like information about an LCMS congregation in your area.