How Do We Get to Heaven?
There are so many opinions out there, but the only one that matters is God's. The Bible is clear that we don’t earn our way to Heaven through good deeds, church attendance, suffering, or being a "good person."
Heaven is a gift - received, not earned.
Jesus said:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
(John 14:6).
We are reconciled back to God the Father by Christ's atonement (His blood sacrifice).
That means no one can get to Heaven by their own efforts or religion.
We must go through Jesus.
We must go through Jesus.
So how do we receive eternal life?
Believe in Jesus Christ
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).
To believe means to have trust in Him.
Repent (turn away) from sin and toward God
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." (Acts 3:19).
The sins of the whole world were put on Jesus on the cross. He took the iniquity for them. Iniquity in this sense is punishment. Jesus took the punishment for your sin - but He won’t force you to give it up. True rest comes when we surrender it willingly. Turning away from sin shuts the door to the enemy and aligns us with Christ.
Confess and follow Him
"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." (Romans 10:9).
This means Jesus has to be Lord of your life.
Salvation is by grace through faith
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works." (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our works (obedience to His commands) show our faith in Him. When James said, "I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18, NKJV), he was referring to practical acts of obedience, love, and mercy - the visible fruit of genuine faith. These were not works to earn salvation, but evidence that someone truly believes.
Heaven is a promise to those who belong to Jesus.
"And this is the promise that He has promised us - eternal life." (1 John 2:25)
If you haven’t made that decision, the time is now. Jesus is the door - walk through Him today and receive eternal life. You are saved by Grace when you turn to Jesus Christ.
By Tania Francis