Dear Friend: There is nothing more important in life than to know the answer to these questions. "If I were to die right now, would I go to heaven?" "Do know for sure?" "How can 1 know?" Many people hope to go to heaven by being good or doing good works. others hope to go to heaven through baptism or church membership. Still others say one cannot know for sure in this life where he will go when he dies. But the Bible has the answers for these very important questions and how you respond to them will determine your eternal destiny.
FIRST, THE BIBLE SAYS ALL ARE SINNERS
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). "For there is not a just man on earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20). "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one For there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 22, 23).
Now, no one will ever be saved until he realizes that he is lost and that there is a terrible penalty to be paid for his sin.
THE BIBLE SAYS SIN MUST BE PUNISHED
"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). "And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:15). "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalm 9:17). "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and (he) shall descend into it" (Isaiah 5:14). "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments" (Luke 16:23). "Fear him which...hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him" (Luke 12:5). "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
THE BIBLE SAYS YOU NEED TO BE SAVED
Jesus said, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). "They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance " (Luke 5:31,32). "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:37,38). "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whoso-ever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny be-fore my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32,33). "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). "To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7, 8). "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
When one fully realizes he is a sinner and that a Holy God must punish his sin, he becomes fully aware that he is lost and is unable to save himself. At this point, the Bible has some very good news for the sinner.
THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS PAID THE PENALTY FOR YOUR SIN
"For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthian5 5:21). "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:13). "(Christ) Who his own self' bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). "For Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities...All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:3-6). "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). "But God commendeth (proves) his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
My friend, that is the best news a sinner ever heard! Sinners need a Saviour so God offered His own dear Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the whole world. He died for you and paid the penalty for your sin. '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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16, 17).
All that God has done and is now doing through Jesus is for the purpose that you might be saved. He wants very much for you to be saved right now! "The Lord... is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). "Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
Now many think that they are such great sinners that God surely wouldn't save them. But the Apostle Paul said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom l am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15). Now if God would save the greatest sinner in the world and make him the greatest apostle, he surely will save you, no matter how great a sinner you think you are.
THE BIBLE TELLS YOU VERY PLAINLY HOW TO BE SAVED
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30,31). The poor sinner prayed, "God be merciful to me, a sinner" and Jesus said, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified" (Luke 18:13, 14). "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:9,10,13).
The Bible is very plain about sin and salvation. While God hates sin and demands that it be fully punished, He is also a kind, loving God who does not want anyone to be lost forever in hell. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. Now, all that remains is for you to confess to God that you are a sinner and ask Him to forgive you and save you. Right now, please call upon Jesus in repentance and faith, confessing your sins and placing your faith and trust completely in Him. If you do not know how to pray, just talk to Him as though He were there with you (He really is). Or you may say words like these, if you really mean them from your heart:
"Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner and I ask you to forgive me of my sin. I know that you died for me. Right now, please come into my heart and save me. I am placing all my faith and trust in you. Thank you for saving me. I now confess you as my Lord and Saviour."
NOW THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN
(A personal word from the author of this tract.)
If you prayed this prayer or one like it from your heart, then according to the Bible, God's Word, you are now saved and have become a child of God and will go to heaven when you die. You can know this for sure because you did exactly what the Bible says a sinner must do to go to heaven. You will gain even greater assurance of your salvation by reading the Bible and praying every day. Please read: John 1:12; John3:36; John 5:24; John 6:37; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:35-39; I John 5:13. As you read God's Word and pray, you will grow and become a strong, mature Christian.
One of the most helpful ways to begin to grow in the Lord is to obey his command to "Confess me before men, and I will confess you before my Father in heaven." That means to tell others that you have placed your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and invite them also to trust in Him. You should also follow the Lord in scriptural water baptism by the authority of a New Testament Church and become a member of that church. There you will find fellowship, encouragement, instruction in the Word of God and an opportunity to serve the Lord. May God richly bless your new life in Christ. If you need further help, please write to me.
Harold Williams
Hi! Pastor Wharton here, from Beacon Missionary Baptist Church. I wanted to add a note to this tract on how to be born again. If you have questions or you have just accepted Christ as your Savior, please write me. E-mail address is denwhar@pacbell.net , or snail mail me at 2170 Hartnell Ave. Redding, Ca. 96002.