DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN I Jn. 5:12-14
We can KNOW if we’re saved. We SHOULD know. Some people simply ASSUME they are saved and heading to heaven. Salvation is too important to just assume. We should know for sure.
If I asked you if you are married, what would your answer be? You KNOW if you’re married or not. We should know whether we are saved just as certainly as we know if we’re married.
Salvation is like birth, it is a very real experience, and it only happens once.
We dare not depend on our feelings. Feelings can be misleading.
IF WE ARE SAVED THERE WILL BE EVIDENCE. Has the following happened to you?
- CONVICTION
Conviction is a work God does in the heart of a person whereby He shows them their sinful condition.
The Philippian jailor experienced God’s conviction.
Ac 16:29–30 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
He saw himself as a sinner and deserving of judgment. That’s called conviction.
We are all sinners.
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Do you remember a time when there was a God produced sorrow in your heart because of your sin?
- CONFESSION
We must confess our sin if we are to be forgiven.
1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Confession means we agree with God. He says I’m a sinner and I agree with Him.
Do you remember a time when you confessed to God that you were a sinner and in need of forgiveness?
Do you remember a time when you turned from your sin and turned to the Lord, asking Him to forgive you?
- CHANGE
If you’re really saved you will be able to remember a time when the Lord changed you.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When a sinner repents and believes, God forgives them and births them into His family. They are a new creature.
If you merely prayed a prayer sometime and did not get changed, you missed it.
- CONDUCT
The child of God will live for the Lord. We are not saved BY our good works, but if we’re saved we will do good works.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
When a person gets saved, the Holy Spirit moves inside them. He begins a work of sanctification in that person.
I am not talking about turning over a new leaf. Many people try to do better on their own. This has nothing to do with real salvation and will do us no good when we stand before God.
Our works are not good enough. We cannot do good enough to go to heaven.
Eph 2:8–9 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.
Tt 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
God said all of our goodness is like a filthy rag to Him (Isa.64:6). That means the very best we can do is not good enough.
- CHASTISEMENT
God corrects His children. Even though we’re saved, we will still do things that displease God. When we disobey, he will deal with us like a father deals with his children.
The bible is very clear about this, ALL true Christians will be chastened.
Heb 12:6–7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
If you can live as you please and not be chastened of the Lord, you ARE NOT SAVED.
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
IF YOU AREN’T SAVED, PLEASE ACCEPT CHRIST RIGHT NOW
We don’t get saved whenever we want to. We get saved when the Lord deals with our heart, or we don’t get saved. Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (Jn 6:44).
If the Lord is speaking to you, please do not take it lightly. He doesn’t have to speak again. While you can, talk to him in prayer. In your own words, ask Him to forgive you, and turn your life over to Him.
Let send us an e-mail and let us know if you have gotten saved. We want to rejoice with you.
Bro. Rick