God did something about our situation and
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17 (ESV)
The most important point in the Bible about getting to heaven or being saved is that you have to trust in Jesus. John 3:16 is possibly the most well-known verse in the entire Bible.
John 3:16 means that God shows His love to the world in this way: He sent His only Son, Jesus. If you believe in Jesus, God will rescue you and you will have eternal life. You will not perish as a result of the penalty of sin. You’ll be saved from your final destination, the lake of fire.
Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 9:10). Jesus saves you by dying in your place. He became your substitute by dying on a cross. He became the sacrifice for your sin to pay the penalty. Jesus died so you can have eternal life.
And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:15 (ESV)
The Bible says that you need to repent and believe in the gospel, the Good News of Jesus.
You don’t get to heaven by being a good person, but by believing in the good news of Jesus.
Who will enter heaven? Those who have believed in the good news of Jesus Christ will enter heaven. According to the Bible, there is no other way to salvation except through Jesus (Acts 4:12). Jesus says in John 14:6 (ESV): “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
To repent means to see things differently. Repent doesn’t mean to just feel bad about your sin our your life. It means seeing things from God’s perspective. In the Bible, repent literally means to “think differently after.” After you hear the good news of Jesus, think differently about God, the world, and yourself.
How would your life be different if you saw things differently? If you believed that God really loved you enough to give you His only Son? If your sins are forgiven so you don’t have to live in fear, shame, and condemnation anymore?
- Would you have a peace that can carry you through the difficult times in life?
- Would your life be filled with gratitude?
- Would you begin to live life in God’s design and not be the boss of your own life?
If you repent and see from God’s perspective, you will live life differently. Jesus will become the Lord, or boss, of your life. To trust God means to surrender to Him and to live life in His design.