SEARCHLIGHT
How do you know for sure you are going to heaven?
SCRIPTURE
Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So, we too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law, no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
What I am about to tell you; you are going to find it hard to believe. I had a really weird experience walking home from church one Sunday when I was pastoring, in Athens. This was my second very unusual encounter in this city.
As I was strolling along and reflecting on all the testimonies of God’s goodness, that I had heard from people just moments before at church, I stopped at an open market area where antique dealers were selling everything from knickknacks to furniture. This was a very congested area, where long and narrow shops were side-by-side. I walked into a store to browse. Unexpectedly, a middle-aged Greek man came up behind me and began talking. He said some things that I do not remember and then asked me a startling question. With a very serious face, out of the blue, he inquired “How do you know you are going to heaven?” Surprisingly, he didn’t inquire if I was interested in finding out the cost of any items. I was so taken back that for a moment I stared at him and then answered, “By trusting in Jesus Christ who is the only true, living God.”
Further questions followed. This man inquired about faith and how to be sure a person’s sin is forgiven. I sensed that he was wanting the free gift of salvation from God, but believed he had to work for it by being good and doing good works. When I offered him a Christian book, written in Greek, which explained personal salvation, he showed me his Greek Orthodox Bible and told me that he went to church every day. Unfortunately, he was fearful to take my book because it was not connected to his church.
My curiosity was beyond me. I asked him who he was and why he asked me these heartfelt questions. He identified himself as the shop owner who was searching for answers. How had he picked me out of all those tourists around him? Only God had directed him to me.
This highly unusual encounter reminded me of Martin Luther, who had led the Protestant Reformation. Luther was so tormented with guilt over his sin. He did not know how he could receive God’s forgiveness and get on God’s good side. Luther was convinced his salvation and entrance to heaven required him to do a lot of good things. Finally, he concluded that he would never be able to be good enough for God.
Something changed Luther as he read the Bible. He discovered that God’s forgiveness was free because he was justified by faith and not what he did.
In today’s Scripture focus, this is clearly stated. The word “justified” is the key to knowing how to be sure you are going to heaven. A person is forgiven his sin, not by what he does, but by what Jesus Christ has done for him. He/she is justified by faith in Jesus Christ. Doing good works does not earn a person eternal life. Heaven is assured only by trusting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Jesus Christ paid a debt for your sin that He did not owe. You owe a debt for your sin that you cannot pay. This is amazing grace. All your sin, not just some of it, but all your past, present, and future sin is forgiven because Jesus Christ became your ransom. The Bible says “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20:28 NIV] Read Hebrews 9:15.
Never again should there be guilt, shame, bondage, ritual, or feeling compelled to do things in order to be assured of eternal life. Ephesians 2:8,9 state “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” Nobody can earn salvation or deserves salvation, but anybody can trust Jesus Christ to be their Savior.
Salvation is God’s free gift to all who trust and believe. [Romans 10:9,10] This is what I wish I could have told my weird encounter friend who asked, “HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN?” But then again, maybe this is for some of you, my reader friends.
SOMETHING TO DO
If you know people who love God, go to church but believe they have to be a good people who do good works in order to be sure that God forgives them, then share this devotional with them today. If you know anyone who is insecure about whether he/she will make it to heaven, please have them read Galatians 3:11; 3:24; Romans 3:23-26,28; 5:1,2,6-9 and 1 Corinthians 6:11.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Thank you Lord God for willingly giving your Son, Jesus, to be my ransom. Thank you that I am not justified by what I do in order to gain entrance to heaven. Thank you that I am justified by faith in Jesus Christ, your Son and my Savior. There is no way I could make myself good enough or earn enough good points to deserve eternal life. Thank you Jesus for dying for my sin. AMEN