Have you ever wondered how God decides who goes to heaven? Maybe you think that you have done enough good in your life to deserve heaven, or maybe you think that you have already lost your chance.
Many people think that going to church, being a generally good person, and maybe praying a sinner’s prayer guarantee a spot in heaven.
But our Creator does not see us the way that we see ourselves. If we want to know how to be accepted by God, we need to start by understanding who God is.
Here are some things that you should know about God:
He is Infinitely Holy
God is pure and undefiled, completely separate from all evil (Revelation 15:4; Isaiah 6:3). Because of this, he rightly demands that we be holy as well since He created us (1 Peter 1:16). God cannot allow anyone into His presence who is not holy like He is, so He requires absolute perfection (Matthew 5:48).
But all of us have sinned and fall short of His holy standards (Romans 3:10-18, 23). God gave us His Law in the Scriptures to reveal His righteous standards. Lies, hatred, covetousness, lust, selfishness, pride, and any other sin are a violation of God’s Law and an act of rebellion against the Lord.
If God is so holy, then who will He accept into heaven? The simple answer is no one.
He is Just
As the Creator of all, God is the just judge of all the earth (Psalm 50:6; Psalm 96:13). All things that have been done in public or in secret will be judged by Him (Revelation 20:11-12; Romans 2:16). Even the motives of your heart are weighed by Him (Proverbs 16:2). Because He is perfectly holy and just, He cannot overlook sin. Our many sins against our infinite God require an infinite punishment in the lake of fire (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Just as a criminal in court cannot point to good deeds to cover a crime, your good works cannot atone for sin (Romans 3:20).
On our own, you and I are hopelessly doomed because of our sins. But don’t stop here. There is wonderful news!
He is Gracious and Loving
But God is rich in love and mercy and has provided a way of salvation (Ephesians 2:4-5)! The Son of God became a man and lived the perfect life that we never could, completely obeying the Law (John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). But instead of following Jesus, humanity rejected Him and had Him crucified (John 1:10-11). Yet this was the plan of God! On the cross, Jesus took our sins upon Himself and suffered God’s wrath in our place (1 Peter 2:24).
On the third day, Jesus Christ rose again from the grave, defeating death and offering eternal life (Matthew 28:5-6; John 11:25)!
Jesus took the punishment so you don’t have to. He offers His perfection in exchange for your sin.
So What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Jesus Christ Himself gives us the answer: repent and believe the gospel (good news) of Christ (Mark 1:15). To repent means to realize your guilt and helplessness before God and to turn away from sin, and to believe means to put your faith in Jesus alone for your salvation (Acts 3:19; Ephesians 2:8-9). If you come to Christ in faith, you are “in Christ,” so you are shielded from God’s holy wrath and judgment. Instead of seeing you as a rebel, God now sees the perfection of Christ in your place and adopts you as His child (Galatians 3:26). Instead of condemning you to hell, God gives you eternal life in His presence. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you, working in you to make you more like Christ (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Do not delay! Come to Christ in faith.
If you have any questions, please contact us. We would love to speak with you and explain the gospel more fully to you.