How can I get saved and go to Heaven?
What do Christians mean by being saved?
THE BIBLE says that if you repent of your sins and receive Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior, you will be saved from eternal punishment in Hell when you die.
You are to repent of your sins (feel regret or remorse for them) and receive Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior to be saved from the torment of Hell.
Don't you think that is wonderful news?
If you are one of those people who would jump at the opportunity to have eternal life, the Bible has good news for you. When it comes to eternal life, God makes no distinction between the famous and the unknown, the rich and the poor, the unselfish hero and the repentant murderer.
It is not for us to know the hearts of others. But there is an indication that Death Row murderer Karla Faye Tucker gave her life to Christ before she was executed in February 1998. There is no indication that German dictator Adolf Hitler did. There is an indication that cowboy Roy Rogers and airplane pioneers the Wright brothers did, but not that revolutionaries Joseph Stalin or Karl Marx did. But we cannot be certain.
People will not go to Heaven because of their good deeds, nor to Hell because of their sins. And this is a good thing, because if people went to Hell because of their sins, everyone would go there. So God has made a way of escape for us. Instead of relying on good works to get us saved, God relies on our acceptance or rejection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord of our life.
How to be saved
How do people become “saved” and “born again” Christians? How can you receive eternal life so that you will be sure to go to be with God when you die? A widely distributed Christian tract says the following is what the Bible requires.
- Admit that you are a sinner.
The Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). - Know that God has already provided for your salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son [Jesus Christ] that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). - Know that you cannot save yourself.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). - Repent of your sins.
“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). - Ask Jesus Christ to save you.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). - Proclaim Jesus before others.
“If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9, 10).
You can be joyously “saved” and “born again” and receive eternal life right NOW, as millions of people worldwide have, when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. Born-again Christians overwhelmingly look at their salvation as the most exciting event in their lives.
What saves you is not any good works you do, but God's grace through your faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Decide right now to repent of your sin (be sorry for the sins you have committed and resolve to turn from them), and put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to bring us into a right relationship with God (Romans 4:24-25).
Often, preachers get people to say a “sinner's prayer” like the one below. But prayers like this do not save you — they are simply a verbal indication that you acknowledge that Jesus died for your sins and you are willing to follow Him as your Lord and Savior.
“Dear Father in Heaven, I realize that I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins [wrongdoings]. I am willing to turn from my sins and lead the life you want me to lead. I now ask Jesus Christ to come into my heart and I receive Him into my life as my personal Savior. I am willing, by God's grace, to follow and obey Christ as the Lord of my life. Please forgive me for my sins and save me.”
What next?
Show your faith in Jesus right now. Start by letting another Christian know you are saved. Or even just let us know if you are not sure whether anyone close to you is a born-again Christian.
We suggest that you get a Bible and read it regularly to get to know Jesus Christ better.
- Talk to God in prayer every day.
- Tell others about Christ.
- Join a Bible-believing church and get baptized. Worship with, and join other Christians in serving Christ in a church that truly believes the Bible and honors and preaches about Christ.
As a born-again Christian you will avoid the terror of what the Bible describes as the alternative to spending eternity in Heaven — the everlasting torment of Hell.
You may also like to see a short Gospel movie on how to be saved and gain eternal life. The link below will take you to the movie by opening in a new window, so when you have finished you can close the window and you will still be on this page.
Photo credit for girl praying: Anita B Patterson
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- What is the Bible all about and how can I understand it?
- How to know God's will for your life?
- How to pray and know that God hears you.
- What is the Lord's Prayer? Is it important for Christians?
- Attending church regularly help people live longer.
- What is an evangelical Christian?
- What evidence is there for Christ's Resurrection?
- What does it mean to be born again?
- Can atheists ever find God?
- Can a Christian be an evolutionist?
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