The only Road Map to Heaven–The Holy Bible
Adapted by Kirk Suchowesky
-The Holy Bible says there is only one way to Heaven:
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)
-It is NOT Jesus plus other gods. It is NOT Jesus plus good works. It is Jesus plus nothing. It is faith in Christ alone.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
-Neither good works alone nor any other gods save a person.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble:” (Jeremiah 2:28a)
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
-Not any mode [sic] of water baptism, not “praying through,” neither a “magic prayer” nor “magic words” nor a “repetition of prayers for salvation,” neither “speaking in tongues” nor being “slain in the spirit,” not giving money to a certain church or charity or Christian organization, not joining a specific church, not taking the “Holy Sacraments,” not “keeping the law,” nor confirmation, not performing miracles, neither “getting a feeling” nor “having a spiritual experience,” nor any other works.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
To be born again into the family of God:
1. Admit to God you are a sinner in need of the Saviour.
-In case you were wondering, you sin. In fact, we all sin everyday. There is evil in the world today because people sin. But some may ask, just exactly what is sin? Good question.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (I John 3:4)
-Sin is when we break God’s laws; these laws are found in a Book called the Holy Bible. That Book is the perfect word of God, the Holy Scriptures, authored by God and forever settled in Heaven, given by inspiration of God to man, authorized by the King of kings and an earthly king, and recorded by God’s people for every man. God controls that whole process and will continue to be absolutely faithful in definately providing us a perfect copy of His word so that we may understand His will for our lives. No strings attached.
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6-7)
-Here are the two greatest commandments that no man except Jesus Christ (Who is God manifest in the flesh of man) has kept since the beginning of time:
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
-The truth is we are born sinners. It is in our very nature as humans. This is why we commit sins. This is why we are not perfect. This is why we harm one another by lying, cheating, stealing, violence, murder, fornication, adultery, rape, etc. I know that sounds elementary, but many people (even good ones) will not agree with God about their sins. It’s one thing to know that we sin; it’s another thing to admit this to God.
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)
-We have inherited our sin nature from Adam. Adam’s sin caused death for the entire human race.
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)
-If you still believe you are “good enough” without God, compare your own goodness to God’s glory. If you are an honest person (aren’t good people supposed to be honest?), then you will admit that God is perfect and you are not.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
-Even one offense against God’s laws in your entire lifetime makes you fall short of God’s glory because God makes NO offenses. God has NEVER one time broken His laws nor will he EVER break them. Surely even good people are guilty of breaking at least one of God’s laws at least one time throughout their entire lives. Of course, that’s all it takes to fall short of God’s glory:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)
-Saying you have not sinned is also calling God a liar because your words contradict God’s words. That means one of you is lying. This means you are indirectly accusing God of not keeping His own word. Would a good person call God a liar?
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)
-The truth is only the Devil, called Satan, would accuse God of lying. Satan also twists God’s words because he himself is a liar. Would a good person accuse God of lying, twist God’s words, and follow Satan? No, but a sinner might if he were deceived.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9)
-Any person who is unwilling to admit they have sinned even one time is deceived by Satan and dishonestly calling God a liar. They are also indirectly declaring themselves perfect and perfectly capable without God. Until they die. After they die, they too will stand before God and be judged according to their words and works. And that day will reveal which person was actually lying and which person was actually telling the truth–God or man.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews (9:27)
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Revelation 20:12)
-If you take the “good-enough” crowd’s route, you will perish with them because God has already declared what will happen to them. And their lack of faith does not nulify God’s laws at all.
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:3-4)
-The end result of the “good-enough’s” is an eternity in the lake of fire. No redemption, no second chances, no hope. Forever.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ALL LIARS [emphasis mine], shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
-If you are honest with God, you will admit that you actually are not “good enough” without Him. Jesus Christ taught this also.
“And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)
-If you are honest with God, you will admit that you are a sinner desperately in need of Him. Otherwise, you will perish in your sins.
“Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” (Jonah 3:9)
-Might I suggest a better way to find out the truth right now: Be honest with God. If you can’t be honest with God, then you can’t be honest with anybody. After all, God created you, and He knows your thoughts. He even knows what you’re going to say before you even say it. At least be willing to admit to God when you’re wrong and hear what God has said to do before it is too late. If God will keep his word about judgment on sin, then surely He will keep his word about salvation from sin.
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
-Even a Christian will give account of himself to God to determine what kind of rewards he will receive in Heaven (note: a Christian cannot lose the salvation of his soul at any time, even the judgment. But, he will be “saved by fire.” Meaning that all of his work, his rewards, his inheritance, and the people who he could have won to Christ will be burned up.)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10)
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (I Corinthians 3:15)
-That means nobody will escape the judgment of God, believers and unbelievers.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
2. Turn to the living God of Heaven for salvation from your sin (repent).
-Jesus Christ said you will perish if you don’t repent.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)
-Jesus Christ’s disciples preached repentance.
“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:12)
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24;47)
-God commands it to every person.
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30)
-Repentance is a turning away from one thing to another. Turn away from your own way of salvation to the living God of Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ’s way for true salvation.
“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21)
3. Believe the gospel message spoken of in the Holy Scriptures:
-The Lord Jesus Christ shed his perfect blood and died on the cross of Calvary to pay for your entire sin debt, was buried, and is risen from the dead this very day and for the rest of time and eternity.
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
-Only Christ’s blood covers sin, not good works:
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:14)
-Even though your sins justly condemn you to an eternity in the lake of fire, God earnestly desires to save you because He loves you.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (I John 4:10)
-God provided His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as the sacrifice to take away the sins of the entire world and establish true righteousness for any person.
“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.” (John 3:16)
“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2)
-A person must possess God’s righteousness in order to enter Heaven. Jesus Christ, who is God and that required righteousness, left Heaven to complete the work of salvation. Now, since the Son of God has completed salvation’s work, salvation is dispensed by the grace of God.
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)
-God’s plan of salvation is the only way to Heaven because it is the only method that will remove your sins, cover them, and replace them with the righteousness of God.
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:25-26)
4. Through prayer, ask Jesus Christ to be your personal Saviour by faith.
-Think about it simply, it’s elementary (child-like even) to believe that the living God of Heaven is a real Person and that He will keep His promises so that you can obtain a real salvation and have a real relationship with Him through His real Son Jesus Christ. God is not going to trick you or lie to you. True salvation is not make-believe–it is reality. Surely if a child can understand that, how much more his elder?
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
-God promises to save you if you ask Him to do so. So have a real conversation with this real Person–by faith. This means that even though you cannot see Christ presently, you know that Christ is alive presently waiting to hear your prayer to be saved because you have faith that the word of God is true and that He will do what He promised.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)
-It is not “a magic prayer” or “magic words” or “the repition of prayers for salvation” that saves a person. It is faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not a “process of being saved.” It happens instantaneously. Jesus Christ is a real Person who wants to give you real salvation this very moment. Won’t you receive that gospel message today? If yes, then call on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation, and He will hear your prayer.
So here are the “simple steps” again:
Admit to God you are a sinner in need of the Saviour.
Turn to the living God of Heaven for salvation from your sin (repent).
Believe the gospel message spoken of in the Holy Scriptures.
Through prayer, ask Jesus Christ to be your personal Saviour by faith.
Remember, God promises to save any person who comes to Christ for salvation:
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Now pray to the living God of Heaven with your mouth and be sincere in your heart (He’s waiting and listening for your response to this gospel invitation this very moment):
Dear God,
I am a sinner who needs the Saviour. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died to pay for my entire sin debt, and that He arose from the dead. I’m not going to depend on my own way for salvation anymore. Instead, I am asking for the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Saviour from sin, death, and Hell and give me eternal life. In Jesus name. Amen.
Now, if you just believed and honestly followed what the Scriptures said above, then you just “received Christ” and are saved for the rest of time and eternity:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12)
This is called being “born-again.” If you believed and obeyed God’s word, then you were born into the family of God. Now, you’re His child. Now, you have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Here are some things a baby Christian should know to have assurance in his newly established relationship:
1. A born-again Christian is kept eternally saved by the power of God through faith, not his own works:
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5)
-True salvation is irrevocable and unchangeable, nor does it require any human merit or assistance maintain itself in a believer. The promise of a believer’s salvation will come to pass no matter what else happens in that believer’s entire life:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
2. A born-again Christian KNOWS he is saved based upon the promises of God in the Holy Scriptures:
“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1:2)
-True salvation is founded on the promises of a perfect and holy God who spoke a perfect and holy word which He even had perfectly and wholly recorded in a Book and had delivered to you specifically, completely, and personally.
“These things have I WRITTEN [emphasis mine] unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW [emphasis mine] that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” (Hebrews 6:17-19)
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)