*HOW CAN I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?* _[By Pastor Daniel Timofte, "Greater Grace Bible College", Harare, Chitown and Bulawayo]_ Which of ...
*HOW CAN I HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?*
_[By Pastor Daniel Timofte, "Greater Grace Bible College", Harare, Chitown and Bulawayo]_
Which of the following statements is correct regarding how to obtain eternal life with God in heaven?
*(only one of the options below is true)
Eternal life is...
1. A gift?
2. A reward or a medal?
3. A wage (salary)?
4. A merchandise?
5. God's decision 100% and man's option 0% (it does not depend on man)?
6. A family or national inheritance?
...correct answer is option 1, while all the other options are wrong, here is why:
*Option 1.* Eternal life with God is a free gift received by faith (trust) in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross on our behalf, see Paul's Epistle to Romans 6:23 (''the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ''). A gift by definition is not merited, the only condition to have a gift is to accept it.
All humans are born with a sin nature inherited from Adam and Eve, also all humans commit personal sins - Romans 3:23, and since no human can pay for his sins Mark 8:37, God has decided that Jesus would pay for our sins on the cross 2000 years ago and He gives heaven as a gift to those who believe in Jesus, see John 3:16.
*Options 2., 3., 4.* involve man's merit via works, however the Bible says we are not saved by merit via works, but by grace via faith, word ''grace'' means gift or unmerited favor, see Eph:2:8-10 (''we are saved by grace, not by works, so that none could boast'').
Salvation is not received by faith through grace + works, but only by faith through grace, see Romans 11:6 and Titus 3:5. True faith might indeed result in works, even if few works or even none (see the thief on the cross Luke 23:43), but works are not a condition for salvation.
Salvation is not a reward for works but a gift through faith in Jesus. Salvation is not conditioned by baptism, nor by Bible reading, nor by attending this or that denomination, nor by keeping a day of the week or another, nor by good works, nor by obedience to all the Bible teachings.
*Option 5* - some think that God has decided already long ago who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, however in such a case God would have no right to judge and condemn those who will go to hell if they were not responsible for their choice of rejecting Jesus.
If God would have chosen some for hell, it would deny man's free will. It would also make no sense for God to invite to salvation all humans, see John 3:16 ''that whosoever believes should not perish'', see also 1Jn.2:2 'Jesus is the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world', not only for the sins of the Christians.
Ephesians 1:4 says that God has chosen us (Christians) from before the foundation of the world - verse does not say 'chosen for salvation' but chosen to be set aside for God (''sanctified''); God knows the end from the beginning, see Isaiah 46:10, therefore as God can see the future before it happens, He knew who will receive Jesus as Savior and who will reject Him, so He chose those who will receive Jesus to be in His presence as saints and glorified in Christ, see Romans 8:30.
*Option 6:* - some think that it is sufficient for them that their father is a Christian; however when the pharisees told Jesus, ''our (natural) father is Abraham'' - statement which was true regarding their natural genealogy, yet Jesus contradicted them and told them that their (spiritual) father was Satan - see John 8:44, thus indicating that natural genealogy is not a guarantee of reaching heaven.
*Questions:*
*A. When will i know if i will go to heaven? After i die, or can i be sure today that i will go to heaven?*
Answer: 1John 5:10-13 says that we can be sure today that we already have eternal life if we trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins. See also John 6:47. The moment when someone places his trust in Jesus' sacrifice for the first time, he can be sure of having eternal life, forgiveness of sins, adoption as child of God (John1:12) and many other promises already fulfilled (see our study ''What happens when you accept Jesus as Savior'')
*B. I thought that at the judgment it will be decided whether i go to heaven or to hell.*
Answer: No, Jesus said that he who believes in Him shall not come to judgment regarding heaven or hell but already has heaven, see John 5:24. The Christian will be judged (analyzed) by Jesus not in regards to heaven or hell, but in regards to his life lived for God or lived selfishly, see 1Corinthians 3:10-15; as a result of this judgment the Christian will receive many rewards or no rewards (verse 15), but will still have eternal life with God.
The judgment from Revelations 20:12 is only for unbelievers as all of them will be cast into the lake of fire with degrees of punishment depending of their evil works, see also Luke 12:47.
*C. So if now i have eternal life by believing in Jesus, does it mean i can live a sinful life trusting that i anyway go to heaven?*
Answer: You could, but remember that if God is your Father, He will not allow you to live like hell for a long time: He will have to chastise you, see Hebrews 12:6-12, chastisement that can mean sickness, bad finances and even premature/early death, see 1Corinthians 11:29-30 and 1John 5:16. Beware: if you can live like hell as a habit without being chastised by God and without having a troubled conscience, it is very possible that you are not born again (a child of God) - you might have accepted Jesus as Savior only with your lips, not with your heart (mind and free will), see Matthew 15:8. You can't foul God: God looks at the heart 1Samuel 16:7, He knows your thoughts Psalm 139:2.
*How can i be sure of having eternal life with God?*
Answer: believe (trust) in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for your sins and tell God: ''Dear God, i believe you have sent Jesus to die on the cross in my place; I accept Jesus' sacrifice on my behalf, I accept Jesus to be my Savior. I believe you forgive me and you receive me as your child as You have promised in the Bible (Gospel of John 1:12). Amen''.
Pastor Daniel Timofte, ''Greater Grace Bible College'', branches in Zimbabwe at:
--40 Seke Road, Harare
--93 McChlery Avenue Eastlea (by Enterprise road crn Herbert Tchitepo);
--Chitungwiza at Seke 3 High School
--Bulawayo 73A Fife Street opposite Central police Station, ZDECO hall
Tel (whatsapp) +263733442985
For branches in 80 other countries visit www,ggwo,org
For Effective Online Promotions WhatsApp Me RockvenusGH.com +233248092481
Email: rockvenusgh9@gmail.com
_[By Pastor Daniel Timofte, "Greater Grace Bible College", Harare, Chitown and Bulawayo]_
Which of the following statements is correct regarding how to obtain eternal life with God in heaven?
*(only one of the options below is true)
Eternal life is...
1. A gift?
2. A reward or a medal?
3. A wage (salary)?
4. A merchandise?
5. God's decision 100% and man's option 0% (it does not depend on man)?
6. A family or national inheritance?
...correct answer is option 1, while all the other options are wrong, here is why:
*Option 1.* Eternal life with God is a free gift received by faith (trust) in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross on our behalf, see Paul's Epistle to Romans 6:23 (''the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ''). A gift by definition is not merited, the only condition to have a gift is to accept it.
All humans are born with a sin nature inherited from Adam and Eve, also all humans commit personal sins - Romans 3:23, and since no human can pay for his sins Mark 8:37, God has decided that Jesus would pay for our sins on the cross 2000 years ago and He gives heaven as a gift to those who believe in Jesus, see John 3:16.
*Options 2., 3., 4.* involve man's merit via works, however the Bible says we are not saved by merit via works, but by grace via faith, word ''grace'' means gift or unmerited favor, see Eph:2:8-10 (''we are saved by grace, not by works, so that none could boast'').
Salvation is not received by faith through grace + works, but only by faith through grace, see Romans 11:6 and Titus 3:5. True faith might indeed result in works, even if few works or even none (see the thief on the cross Luke 23:43), but works are not a condition for salvation.
Salvation is not a reward for works but a gift through faith in Jesus. Salvation is not conditioned by baptism, nor by Bible reading, nor by attending this or that denomination, nor by keeping a day of the week or another, nor by good works, nor by obedience to all the Bible teachings.
*Option 5* - some think that God has decided already long ago who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, however in such a case God would have no right to judge and condemn those who will go to hell if they were not responsible for their choice of rejecting Jesus.
If God would have chosen some for hell, it would deny man's free will. It would also make no sense for God to invite to salvation all humans, see John 3:16 ''that whosoever believes should not perish'', see also 1Jn.2:2 'Jesus is the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world', not only for the sins of the Christians.
Ephesians 1:4 says that God has chosen us (Christians) from before the foundation of the world - verse does not say 'chosen for salvation' but chosen to be set aside for God (''sanctified''); God knows the end from the beginning, see Isaiah 46:10, therefore as God can see the future before it happens, He knew who will receive Jesus as Savior and who will reject Him, so He chose those who will receive Jesus to be in His presence as saints and glorified in Christ, see Romans 8:30.
*Option 6:* - some think that it is sufficient for them that their father is a Christian; however when the pharisees told Jesus, ''our (natural) father is Abraham'' - statement which was true regarding their natural genealogy, yet Jesus contradicted them and told them that their (spiritual) father was Satan - see John 8:44, thus indicating that natural genealogy is not a guarantee of reaching heaven.
*Questions:*
*A. When will i know if i will go to heaven? After i die, or can i be sure today that i will go to heaven?*
Answer: 1John 5:10-13 says that we can be sure today that we already have eternal life if we trust in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins. See also John 6:47. The moment when someone places his trust in Jesus' sacrifice for the first time, he can be sure of having eternal life, forgiveness of sins, adoption as child of God (John1:12) and many other promises already fulfilled (see our study ''What happens when you accept Jesus as Savior'')
*B. I thought that at the judgment it will be decided whether i go to heaven or to hell.*
Answer: No, Jesus said that he who believes in Him shall not come to judgment regarding heaven or hell but already has heaven, see John 5:24. The Christian will be judged (analyzed) by Jesus not in regards to heaven or hell, but in regards to his life lived for God or lived selfishly, see 1Corinthians 3:10-15; as a result of this judgment the Christian will receive many rewards or no rewards (verse 15), but will still have eternal life with God.
The judgment from Revelations 20:12 is only for unbelievers as all of them will be cast into the lake of fire with degrees of punishment depending of their evil works, see also Luke 12:47.
*C. So if now i have eternal life by believing in Jesus, does it mean i can live a sinful life trusting that i anyway go to heaven?*
Answer: You could, but remember that if God is your Father, He will not allow you to live like hell for a long time: He will have to chastise you, see Hebrews 12:6-12, chastisement that can mean sickness, bad finances and even premature/early death, see 1Corinthians 11:29-30 and 1John 5:16. Beware: if you can live like hell as a habit without being chastised by God and without having a troubled conscience, it is very possible that you are not born again (a child of God) - you might have accepted Jesus as Savior only with your lips, not with your heart (mind and free will), see Matthew 15:8. You can't foul God: God looks at the heart 1Samuel 16:7, He knows your thoughts Psalm 139:2.
*How can i be sure of having eternal life with God?*
Answer: believe (trust) in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for your sins and tell God: ''Dear God, i believe you have sent Jesus to die on the cross in my place; I accept Jesus' sacrifice on my behalf, I accept Jesus to be my Savior. I believe you forgive me and you receive me as your child as You have promised in the Bible (Gospel of John 1:12). Amen''.
Pastor Daniel Timofte, ''Greater Grace Bible College'', branches in Zimbabwe at:
--40 Seke Road, Harare
--93 McChlery Avenue Eastlea (by Enterprise road crn Herbert Tchitepo);
--Chitungwiza at Seke 3 High School
--Bulawayo 73A Fife Street opposite Central police Station, ZDECO hall
Tel (whatsapp) +263733442985
For branches in 80 other countries visit www,ggwo,org
For Effective Online Promotions WhatsApp Me RockvenusGH.com +233248092481
Email: rockvenusgh9@gmail.com
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