How to Have Eternal Life
Have you come to a place in your life that you know for certain you have eternal life and will go to heaven when you die?
Suppose you were standing before God right now and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What would you say?
God’s Purpose
God loves us and has a purpose for our lives. The Bible states it this way: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s purpose is that we have eternal life.
God gives eternal life as a gift (Romans 6:23).
- He makes it possible for us to live a full and meaningful life right now (John 10:10).
- He makes it possible for us to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven (John 14:1-3).
Our Need
As we search for meaning in life, we discover our sinful nature keeps us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.
- We are all sinners by nature and by choice: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
- We cannot save ourselves. “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” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- We deserve death and hell. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God’s Provision
God is holy and just and must punish sin. Yet He loves us and provides forgiveness for our sin. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
- Jesus is God and became man (John 1:1, 14).
- Jesus died for us on the cross (1 Peter 3:18).
- Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive today (Romans 4:25; 6:9-10).
Our Response
The only way Jesus can affect our lives is for us to receive Him. The Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
- We must repent of our sin. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19).
o Repentance is not just feeling sorry for our sin.
o Repentance is turning away from our sin and turning to God through Jesus (Acts 26:20). - We must place our faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:22).
o Faith is not just believing facts about Jesus (James 2:19)
o Faith is trusting in Jesus as Lord (the One who directs our lives) and Savior (the One who provides forgiveness of sin). “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame’” (Romans 10:9-11)
My Commitment
Placing our faith in Jesus is something each person must do individually. No one else can make this decision for you. Jesus says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).
- Does what we have been discussing make sense to you?
- Is there any reason you would not be willing to receive God’s gift of eternal life?
- Are you willing to turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior right now?
If you are willing to place your faith in Jesus now, you can invite Him into your life by prayer. You may use the following prayer or a similar one using your own words:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God and died to forgive me of my sins. I know I have sinned. I ask You to forgive me. I want to follow you. I turn from my sin and place my faith in You as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for your gift of a full and meaningful life now and eternity in heaven. Amen.”
As You Begin Your New Life in Jesus . . .
You have now acknowledged Jesus as your Lord and Savior. That is the most important decision you will ever make. Confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior means trusting Him to direct your life (Matthew 7:21) and having confidence that He has forgiven your sins. By making this decision you can have assurance of eternal life (John 10:27-30).