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Heaven or Hell?
Recently Keven, Joshua and I were out witnessing. We were handing out tracts and a lot of times Joshua would say, “Are you going to Heaven or Hell?” Most people replied that they were going to Heaven. This reminded me of Frank Jenner in Sydney Australia who for 28 years would hand people a tract and ask them if they died today, would they go to Heaven or Hell? Many people were saved by the grace of God by this one man asking this question. It made some people think of their eternity who never really thought about it before. Yes, it really is that simple: Heaven or Hell?
You see, every human being has an eternal soul and we will spend eternity in Heaven or eternity in Hell. Which will it be for you? Heaven or Hell? Heaven you say? What are you counting on to get there? Unfortunately, a lot of people consider themselves to be good. Some people wrongly believe that as long as they do more good than bad, that God is going to welcome them to Heaven. But where is that in the Bible? Where does the Bible say if you do more good than bad then you are saved? If you believe this tonight we can save you a lot of time, you won’t find it anywhere in the Bible. It is not there. You can’t just be good or do more good than bad to get to Heaven.
None Of Us Are Good
In fact the Bible tells us that none of us are good. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:20). None of us are just or in a right standing with God on our own. This verse says there are none that doeth good. None of us are sinless. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Psalm 53:1 states: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. Romans 3:10-12 says: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
The Bible clearly says that none of us are good, that none of us do good. So how are you going to convince God that you are good when the Bible says none of us are good? What’s your argument going to be as to why God should allow you into Heaven? If you are counting on your goodness and yet the Bible says none are good, where does that leave you?
Why Do We Die?
Have you ever thought about why we die? We are born and we die. We are born to die. But why? The soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4). To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…(Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Yes we all will die one day. The wages of sin is death. That’s all you earn after toiling your whole life if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior. No matter how rich you are, how successful or popular you are. It’s all for not.
All Is Vanity
King Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 1:1-2: The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. That’s right, if you die without Jesus Christ, if you die in your sins, all is vanity. The wages of your whole life is death, no matter how good you think you are. This is a very sobering thought. Everything you’ve ever done in your life, no matter how good you think it was, it was for not. All is vanity.
But please notice the second part of Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God. Oh how merciful and gracious God is. The one true God. The God of the Bible. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Everlasting life is found Christ Jesus alone. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
We Deserve Hell
Jesus is the only Savior of mankind. Salvation is found in no other and this salvation is a free gift from 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 (Ephesians 2:8-9). You and I deserve to die in our sins. We deserve to die and go to Hell and suffer unimaginable torments forever. That’s what we all deserve. We’ve all went our own way. Each and every one of us at one time or another has said no to God and yes to our own way. We’ve all lied, lusted and dishonored our parents. Most of us have stolen something, even if it was something small.
None of us have perfectly kept the 10 Commandments. But Jesus did. He walked this earth 2,000 years ago. He was born of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit. Jesus never sinned. Not one time. He always did the will of God the Father. Yet He willingly went to the cruel cross in the place of guilty sinners. Jesus suffered, bled and died on the cross. As He hung there, God poured His wrath over sin out upon His own precious, sinless Son. Folks, that’s how much God hates sin!
Salvation Found In Jesus Alone
Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose victoriously from the grave three days later. Oh, salvation is found in Christ alone. Please listen to John 3:14-21: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Really Is Heaven Or Hell
It really is Heaven or Hell. We all deserve Hell, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Salvation is a free gift, but you must receive it. Salvation is a free gift, but it is the most costly gift EVER given. Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Don’t foolishly die in your sins and go to Hell. Salvation is found in Christ alone. Repent and believe the Gospel.
The Bible says that we are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21).
Oh, come to Jesus and be saved. Repent of your sins and trust Jesus. Trust the Lord and His finished work on the cross. Listen to these words of Jesus about Heaven and Hell: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Oh, do you hear these words of Jesus? Do you hear the Savior calling? Come to Jesus. Repent and believe the Gospel and be saved. Be saved today.
(This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on May 27, 2022)