How Can I Have Eternal Life?

Read below to find out how you can be assured of a future home in heaven

F is for Forgiveness
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness.

The Bible says "In Him [meaning Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Ephesians 1:7
A is for Available
God's forgiveness is Available.

It is available to all.

A favorite verse for many people is John 3:16 which says "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

However, God's forgiveness is NOT Automatic.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said "Not everyone who says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Why? Because. . .
I is for Impossible
It is impossible for a holy God to allow sin into heaven.

As previously mentioned, God is a God of love, John 3:16 shows that. But. . .

God is also just.

The Bible says "For judgment is without mercy." James 2:13

And man is sinful by nature.

Romans 3:23 states "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

This poses a dilemma for mankind. You see, sin deserves to be punished. The punishment is an eternity separated from God in a place the Bible calls hell. Since we all have sinned (disobeyed God) we deserve to bear the punishment for it, and cannot reach heaven by our own merits. The question is then, how can a holy God allow sinful people into heaven, where God cannot allow sin?

The answer comes with T.
T is for Turn
To turn means to change directions. The Biblical word for turn is repent.

Turning means three things:

1. You turn from something - sin and self

The Bible says "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

2. You turn to someone - the Lord, Jesus Christ

The Bible also says "Christ died according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

3. You trust Christ only

In Romans 10:9, the apostle Paul wrote "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

And doing this will bring you to H.
H is for Heaven
It is eternal life here on earth.

Jesus said "I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

But it is also eternal life in the hereafter.

Jesus said "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3