How do I get to Heaven?

Let God’s word show you how to get to heaven. Our Lord Jesus points the way, and He has left direct instructions for us to follow.

John 3.1-7 says

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Y’shua (Jesus) by night and said to Him,3 "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. "

4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. 

7 Do not marvel that I say to you, you must be born again."

Then in John 3.9-10

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him "How can these things be?"

10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not know these things? "

Nicodemus was the ruler of the Pharisees yet he understood not the things that Jesus spoke of regarding eternal life with God. Jesus stated that unless you are born of water and of spirit then you cannot enter the kingdom of God. In John 14.17, Jesus calls the Spirit "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot see, because it neither sees nor knows Him."

Jesus said you must be born again, spiritually. Why?

Let us look at some of the ten commandments that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 20.15 say’s "Thou shalt not steal. "

If you have taken something (even something small) that does not belong to you. What does this make you? A thief!

Exodus 20.16 say’s "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour "

If you have told so much as a white lie then you have indeed lied. What does this make you? A liar! If you interfere in other peoples lives and then spread tales about them, you are a gossip and a busy body!

So if you have stolen something and told a lie or have been a false witness in matters, then before God you have broken 2 of His ten commandments. To God there is no degree between a small sin and a big sin.

Romans 6.23 tells us

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. "

This wonderful gift of eternal life from God is something that we must ourselves reach for and receive, it is not thrown at us whether we want it or not. We must choose to take it. Also, as it is a gift, eternal life is not something that we can gain ourselves by good works, we cannot earn it. It is a gift, the price has already been paid by Jesus when He died on the cross.

But what about our sin? We cannot see God’s kingdom as we are, and this is why Jesus died for us. 1 John 1.7 says

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

You must trust in Jesus, that He is The Son of God, and that He died to free you from the penalty of your sin. In John 5.24, Jesus tells us "He who hears My word and believes in Him who has sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment (of our sins), but has passed from death into life."

To be born of water can mean two things. Primary meaning – the Word of God is seen allegorically as water, see Ephesians 5:25-26;
1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18. Secondly, water also refers to the Holy Spirit as in John 7:38-39. Here the Lord Jesus speaks of rivers of living water and He teaches that this means the Holy Spirit. We simply must have a spiritual re-birth as verses 6 and 8 of chapter 3 speak of as being “born of the Spirit.” (NB. There is no contradiction here that the Spirit would then be mentioned twice in verse 5 of chapter 3 as the word ‘and’ can just as correctly be translated from the Greek as ‘even’ to give “Unless one is born of water, even the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”)

Once you are born again you must follow His example by being baptised as an adult, making a free choice to live a new life in Jesus. Baptism is something that we must choose to do, it is not something that a parent can choose for us, as with Christening sprinkling.

So we are to be ‘born again’ as the Lord Jesus states in verse 7 of John chapter 3. You therefore cannot enter the kingdom of God without spiritual re-birth which is by repentance.

In John 14.6, Jesus says

"I AM the Way, the Truth. and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me. "

To be born of The Spirit, you must pray to God with a sincere heart, and acknowledge your sins before Him. But rejoice!! God has promised to forgive you, and cleanse you from all sin, past, present and future, through the cleansing blood of Jesus 
who died on the cross.

 

You can pray this simple prayer, or pray straight from your heart to God.

Dear Father in Heaven,

I realise that I am a sinner and worthy of separation from You for all eternity.

At this moment I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me for my rebellion
against you and my refusal to accept the love of Christ.

I accept the sacrifice that your son Jesus made for me on Calvary’s Cross.

I believe that you raised Him from the dead and I confess with my mouth that
Jesus is my Lord.

Thank you for hearing this prayer and accepting me into the family of God because
of the blood of Christ (Messiah) that covers my sins, and I know that from this moment
on I am saved.

Thank you, Lord. Amen.

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