Episode 774: How to get to Heaven - Part 1

How Can I Get to Heaven?

I. Realize you are a Sinner:
We inherited Adam’s sinful nature and are sinful from the moment of conception.
(Romans 5:12)

"Wherefore as by one man (Adam) sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned."

A good Test to show that we are sinners is the Ten Commandments: (See Exodus 20 for all of them).

1. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. It “forbids all false, rash, unjust, and unnecessary oaths, blasphemy, cursing, and profane words.”

2. You shall not murder. Scripture says that if you hate your brother you are a murderer. ( I John 3:15)

3. You shall not commit adultery. Jesus says that if you look at a woman with lust, you committed adultery in your heart. (Matthew 5:28)

4. You shall not steal. This “Commandment forbids all unjust taking or keeping what belongs to another.”

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Here it “forbids all rash judgments, backbiting, slanders, and lies.”

If you broke even one of these commandments your guilty of all.
(James 2:10) "And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all."

What is the consequences of Sin?
(Romans 6:23A)

"For the wages of sin is death."

The Scripture presents death as a separation.

1. A physical death: The body separated from the soul. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

2. A spiritual death: Man separated from God spiritually. (Isaiah 59: 1-2)

3. The second death: Man separated from God eternally. (Apocalypse or Revelations 21:8)

Throughout history God has required a blood sacrifice for sin. And since the fall of man, animal sacrifice was a very important part of that requirement. Below are some examples of animals sacrifices in Scripture:

When Adam sinned, animals were killed by God to provide clothing for them. (Genesis 3:21)

Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to the Lord. Cain's was unacceptable because he brought fruit, while Abel's was acceptable because it was the "firstborn of his flock.” (Genesis 4:4-5)

After the flood receded, Noah sacrificed animals to God. (Genesis 8:20-21)

Why, then, do we no longer offer animal sacrifices today? Animal sacrifices have ended because Jesus Christ was the ultimate and perfect sacrifice. John the Baptist recognized this when he saw Jesus coming to be baptized. (John 1:29)

You may be asking yourself, why animals? What did they do wrong? That is the point—since the animals did no wrong, they died in place of the one performing the sacrifice. Jesus Christ also did no wrong but willingly gave Himself to die for the sins of mankind. (I Timothy 2:6)

II. Believe on Jesus as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried,and whom God resurrected.

(John 1:12) “But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.”

III. Repent

Repentance is to have such a sorrow for something, that it makes you want to change your mind and your actions toward that thing.
(Acts 3:19)

"Be penitent, (repent) therefore, and be converted (turn back or change your mind), that your sins may be blotted out."

IV. You must desire and seek to be baptized.
(Acts 2:38)

"Do penance and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

V. You must be subject to Jesus' holy Church
(I Corinthians 12:27-28)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and members of member. And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors; after that then the miracles; then the graces of healing, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches."

VI. Keep the Commandments of God
(John 14:15)

"If you love me, keep my commandments."

VII. Keep Holy the Lord's Day
(Exodus 31:15)

"Six days shall you do work: in the seventh day is the sabbath, the rest holy to the Lord. Every one that shall do any work on this day, shall die."

(Acts 20:7)
"And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow: and he continued his speech until midnight."

VIII. Hear the Word of God.
(Luke 11:27-28)
"And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it. "