How can I make sure I'm going to heaven?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Each of us will one day face death. At some future moment, this life will end. We all know this, yet often fail to consider what will happen after this life. The Bible offers a clear presentation of what happens in the next life. Each person will either spend eternity with God in His presence or eternity apart from Him (Luke 16:19–31; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11–15; Daniel 12:2). How can you make sure to be with God in heaven for eternity? According to both the Old and New Testaments, making sure we are going to heaven depends on our faith, our relationship with God. Salvation and assurance of heaven come through faith in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed Himself for humanity's sins. Anyone who trusts in Him will be saved and is assured of heaven.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In the Old Testament, the assurance of going to heaven is rooted in one's relationship with God and faith demonstrated through adherence to His covenant and commandments.
• Throughout the Old Testament, individuals like Abraham (Genesis 15:6), Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10), and David (1 Kings 3:14) are noted for their faithfulness to God and obedience to His commands.
• Psalms like Psalm 103:17–18 express hope in God's everlasting love and faithfulness to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
• Prophetic passages such as Isaiah 25:8–9 and Daniel 12:2–3 speak of a future resurrection and rewards for those who trust in God's promises and remain faithful to Him.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Assurance of heaven is given in the New Testament because God’s plan of redemption unfolded with Jesus providing the only means of salvation and assurance of heaven. Anyone who believes in Him will be saved and spend eternity with Him (Acts 16:31).
• After death, each person will either spend eternity with God in His presence or eternity apart from Him (Luke 16:19–31). This eternal destination is dependent on a person’s faith and how they respond to Christ’s death and resurrection.
• John 3:16 teaches, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
• The Bible is clear, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sin is going against God's ways, and because He is holy, it separates us from Him. Sin is what introduced death into the world (Genesis 3; Romans 6:23).
• Romans 5:12 says, "sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." Sin keeps us from God. This is not something we can fix on our own. We need an advocate on our behalf to reconcile us with God and then be with Him forever in heaven. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." All who put their faith in Jesus Christ are saved (Ephesians 2:1–10).
• Romans 5:8 says, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [Him]" (John 14:6). Jesus is the "one mediator between God and men" (1 Timothy 2:5).
• Romans 10:9 tells us that to be saved, you must believe Jesus Christ is God's Son who came to earth, died in our place to pay the penalty for sin, and rose from the dead. Through trusting in Jesus we can make sure we are going to heaven.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

When you put your faith in Jesus, you are fully forgiven of your sin and reconciled to God. You also receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3–14). He helps you know, love, and obey God. Salvation is not just about going to heaven, but about life now. You will still sin in this life, but God will never forsake you. Instead, He will cleanse you (1 John 1:8—2:6). As you follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit will help you put sin aside and instead live God's ways. He will transform your heart and mind, helping you experience the fullness of life in Jesus and carry out God's purposes for you (John 7:37–39; 10:10; Romans 8:28–30; Philippians 2:12–13).

Remember, this promise is not based on works, but on God's grace, received through faith. Ephesians 2:8–9 clearly states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." No amount of works you do will be good enough to earn heaven. Jesus has already paid the price. When we believe in Him, we become part of His family (Romans 8:14–17) and are given eternal life.

Do you want to decide right now to believe in Jesus and receive eternal life? The following prayer is one you can use to place your faith in Him:

"God, thank you for sending Jesus to provide eternal life for those who believe. I admit I am a sinner. I believe in Jesus as God's Son who was crucified and took on the punishments for my sin then rose from the dead in victory. I trust in Jesus as Lord by faith. Help me to live a new life devoted to you. Amen."

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UNDERSTAND

• Salvation and assurance of heaven come through believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died and rose again.
• After death, individuals will either spend eternity with God or apart from Him, based on their faith in Jesus.
• Recognizing our sinfulness and its consequences and then trusting in Jesus' sacrifice for forgiveness and reconciliation with God assures us of our eternal destination.

REFLECT

• How does your faith in Jesus Christ give you confidence that you will go to heaven?
• What practices or habits help you strengthen your assurance of eternal life with God?
• How does your understanding of salvation through Jesus impacts your daily life and decisions.

ENGAGE

• How can we effectively communicate the truth that faith in Jesus is the key to assurance of heaven to those who may not share this belief?
• Discuss the role of personal faith versus good works in securing eternal life. How do biblical teachings guide our understanding of obedience to God and faith?
• How can we grow in assurance of heaven? How can we support others in nurturing this assurance?