Ticket to Heaven

Getting to heaven is easier than most people think. The majority of people seem to believe that being a good person is what gets you to heaven. The fact is, you don't have to be good to get into heaven, you have to be perfect. The only person who ever lived that was perfect was Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Because of our sin we can never make it to heaven based on our own good works. That is why humanity needed a savior. To save all of us from the eternal flames of hell. God sent his only son to die in our place and shed his blood for all of our sins.

John 3

16 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God the father required a payment for sin. That payment was innocent blood. In the old testament the blood of animals was shed, but that was only symbolic of the blood that Jesus would shed. Jesus shed blood, is the only thing that can wash away our sins.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

The only way to heaven is by believing that Jesus paid for your sins with his death, burial, and resurrection. Water baptism is actually a symbol of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. Being dunked in and pulled out is like Jesus going to the grave and then resurrecting. Some people say this will get you to heaven. This is false, water baptism can not get you to heaven, it is merely a symbolic gesture. The baptism of the holy spirit however is another story.

Acts 1:5 - For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Upon believing on Christ for your salvation, you are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Upon receiving the Holy Spirit you are baptized into the body of Christ and are a new creation. This is not something that you can feel, and your life doesn't always instantly change. Once this event occurs you are going to heaven weather you like it or not.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

You can not lose your salvation once you receive it. Just like you did nothing to earn it, you can do nothing to lose it. People will say that without doing good works, salvation is baseless. They say we do nothing to earn it. Well, we did nothing to earn our sin nature, and we do nothing to set ourselves free from it. Adam plunged the human race into sin and Jesus Christ saved us from it. Man comes up with ideas like earning salvation by works, because that is how you earn things in this world. God the Father however, is not a man and his ways are higher than our ways.

Isaiah 55

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

In summary, the ticket to heaven is Jesus Christ. It is only through him and his sacrifice for us, that we can get to heaven. I hope this post was a blessing to you, and if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I suggest you do so. It will be the best decision of your life.