Spiritual Answers

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How can I know for sure I’m going to heaven when I die?

This is one of life’s ultimate questions—perhaps the most important one. A jailer once asked a similar question of Christ’s first followers. The jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30, 31). Essentially, they were repeating what Jesus had taught them. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). According to Jesus Christ, the way to know for sure you’re going to heaven is to believe in him.

What does it mean to “believe” in Jesus Christ? 

Most people believe Jesus existed and that he was a remarkable man, an influential spiritual teacher. Even his enemies believed this—which is why they had him killed! But is this the kind of “belief” the Bible says is the gateway to eternal life? Surely not! But if mere agreement to the historical facts of Jesus’ life doesn’t constitute saving faith, then what does?

The Bible describes saving faith as the act of “receiving” Christ. It says, “To all who received him [Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Saving faith involves placing our trust in Jesus Christ—not just believing the facts about his life. Essentially, it’s about a relationship more than it’s about “religion.” To believe in Jesus Christ is to “receive” or “embrace” his teaching in a personal way—beginning with his teaching about who he is.

Who did Jesus say he is?

Jesus made some astonishing claims about himself, beginning with his claim to be the Son of God—by which he was claiming equality with God (see John 5:18). Essentially, Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh. Some of Jesus’ hearers believed his claim (e.g. Matthew 16:16; John 1:34; 1:49; 11:27), and some wanted to kill him for it (e.g. John 19:7), but both groups recognized the monumental implications of Jesus’ claims. (It’s hard to remain neutral in the face of such radical claims!) When the high priest asked Jesus if he was the Christ, the Son of God, he responded, “Yes, it is as you say” (Matthew 26:64). In fact, one of Jesus’ closest followers wrote an entire book on the life of Christ in which he states that the purpose of the book is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

As the unique Son of God, Jesus also claimed to be able to impart to us eternal life. He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

Jesus was crystal-clear about his identity and his mission. He claimed to be God in the flesh—our Savior.

Why do we need a Savior?

Ever done something you knew was wrong or selfish? Of course you have. We all have. The Bible calls that sin. Sin is rebellion against God’s rightful rule over us. It’s choosing to put our own agenda above God’s. It’s doing or saying anything that’s contrary to God’s perfect holiness. The Bible says, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10) and “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

If sin is rebellion against God, and, as the Bible says, we’ve all sinned, then that makes us all rebels against God. When you put it that way, it takes on a certain seriousness, doesn’t it? God takes sin very seriously. In fact, he says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This refers not just to physical death, but to eternal separation from the Author of Life. That’s why we need a Savior: our rebellion against God has left us exiled from God’s presence and subject to his wrath.

Why would God want to save someone like me? 

If, as the Bible says, I’m a sinner, then why would God want to have anything to do with me? Why doesn’t he just zap me and start over? Here’s the good news: God loves you. A lot. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). By his own standard, Jesus demonstrated supreme love for you and me by dying an agonizing death on the cross in our place. (Remember, as the Son of God, Jesus lived a sinless life. We were the rebels who deserved God’s wrath, not him.) The Bible says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God loves you. That’s why he came to save you.

Are there other ways to get to heaven?

Jesus warned against following the crowd when it comes to your eternal destiny. He said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Lots of people today believe that there are many paths to heaven. But Jesus taught that there’s only one way to heaven. He said things like, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him" (John 3:36) and "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Jesus Christ claimed to be the only point of entry to heaven and eternal life. To some, this makes Jesus seem incredibly exclusive. In reality, Jesus is incredibly inclusive because he will admit anyone who comes to him for entry. No one is turned away.

The question is, “Have you received Jesus Christ as your Savior?

If you’ve never received Christ as your Savior, why not do that right now? Just admit to God that you’ve tried to live your life without him—that you’ve sinned against him. Tell him that you believe that he sent Jesus Christ, his Son, to die in your place and to save you from a life of sin and separation from him. Invite him to come into your life as your Savior, your Forgiver, your Leader.

Once you begin a relationship with God through Christ, your adventure with God has just begun! You’ll want to cultivate that new relationship by reading your Bible, praying, and joining a healthy church for encouragement from fellow Christ followers. Grace Valley Fellowship can help.

Contact us at: (610) 935-7960 or gvf@gvfonline.org.