How Would You Answer?
Pastor Joseph Campbell
Sunday Morning • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 40:33
0 ratings
· 11 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
If you were to stand before God, and He were to ask you this question, “Why should I let you into Heaven,” how would you respond? How would you answer?
How Would You Answer?
How Would You Answer?
Through out the years, I have posed that situation/that question to numbers of people and, in response, I have received three basic answers.
I Don’t Know
I Don’t Know
*Generally this answer is followed with something like this: But I hope He’d let me into Heaven!
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Before I go on to the other two answers, I think we need to consider: Why is this important? Is it really that big of a deal?
In short, yes, it is important…it is extremely important!
Is it a big deal? Yes, because it deals with, not only our life - here and now - but also our life in the hereafter - after this life is over.
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Now, back to the answers to the original question: Why should I let you into Heaven?
Instead of answering, “I don’t know,” we have already seen that, yes, you can know how to answer that question.
There is a correct answer to that question - and, God indeed does want you to be able to answer that question.
The second response that I receive from individuals:
I Tried My Best to Do Good
I Tried My Best to Do Good
*This is probably the most “popular” answer given. I have received this answer from countless individuals, especially those who have “gone to church.”
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
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.
Titus 3:4–7 (KJV 1900)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
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;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
So, if we can’t simply shrug our shoulders and say, “I don’t know,” and…
…if “I’ve tried my best to do good,” is not the correct answer, what is the correct answer.
The Only Correct Answer
The Only Correct Answer
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Vs. 21) If only those who do the will of God can enter Heaven and…
(Vs. 22) If apparently, the will of God isn’t simply prophesying in His name; casting out devils and doing many wonderful works in His name (doing good)…
How, then, can an individual know that Heaven will be their eternal home? How can they possibly answer the question that was posed at the beginning of this message!
Going back to a verse I shared earlier:
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
The correct answer to the question centers around one Individual - Jesus Christ.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God loves each of us even though we are sinners.
God loves each of us even though we are sinners.
John 3:16 (KJV 1900)
For God so loved the world…
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The penalty for our sins? Death - eternal death!
Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)
For the wages of sin is death…
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
God demonstrated His loves for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us; to pay the penalty for our sin!
God demonstrated His loves for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us; to pay the penalty for our sin!
John 3:16 (KJV 1900)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV 1900)
…Christ died for our sins…
We must believe the truth of God’s Word and put our trust in Jesus Christ.
We must believe the truth of God’s Word and put our trust in Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Believe what truth?
That we are a sinner.
That there is a penalty for our sin - death.
That God loved us and sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin.
That only through Jesus Christ can we have eternal life.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Acts 16:30–31 (KJV 1900)
…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Will you, today, believe the truth of God’s Word and put your trust in Jesus Christ for your eternal life?
Will you, today, believe the truth of God’s Word and put your trust in Jesus Christ for your eternal life?
In that way, only, will you be prepared to answer the question: Why should I let you into Heaven?