Rapture Watch

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

Good works cannot save you.

"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)

Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:

1. Admit you are a sinner.

   "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)

   "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:" (Romans 5:12)

   "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10) 

2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent).

Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)

1. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.

   "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." (John 3:16)

   "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

   "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." (Romans 10:9)

2. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.

   "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)

   "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"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:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:

1. Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.

   "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

   "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

2. Talk to God in prayer every day.

   "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)

   "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

3. Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.

   "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)

   "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

   "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

4. Tell others about Christ.

   "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

   "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)

   "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

1. All men are sinners:

Rom.3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
Eccl.7:20 Not a just man on earth, that...sinneth not
Isa.64:6 All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags
Rom.3:10 There is none righteous, no not one
Jam.2:10 Whoever shall offend in one point (of law), guilty of all
1Jn.1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves

2. Salvation by grace (undeserved mercy), not works:

Eph.2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith, not of yourselves...not of works
Mk.10:25-27 Who can be saved? With men it is impossible
Rom.3:20a By deeds of law shall no flesh be justified in His sight
Rom.11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works
Gal.2:16 Justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of the law
2Tim.1:9 Saved us, not according to our works, but according to His grace
Tit.3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done

3. Salvation only through Jesus:

Acts 4:12 None other name...whereby we must be saved
1Tim.2:5 One mediator between God and men...Christ Jesus
Jn.3:16 God...gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should...have everlasting life
Jn.3:36b He that believeth not the Son shall not see life
Jn.8:24 If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins
Jn.10:1 He that entereth not by the door...but climbeth up some other way...is a thief and a robber
Jn.10:9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in...be saved
Jn.14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me
1Cor.3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than... Jesus Christ
1Jn.5:12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not life

4. Believe on Jesus:

Jn.3:16 Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life
Jn.11:25,26 I am the resurrection and the life...whosoever believeth in Me shall never die
Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved
Rom.10:9,10 If thou shalt...believe in thine heart...thou shalt be saved
1Jn.5:1a Whosoever believeth Jesus is the Christ is born of God

5. Receive Jesus:

Rev.3:20 If any man...open the door, I will come in to him
Jn.1:12 But as many as received Him...power to become sons
Gal.4:6 God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your heart
Eph.3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith

6. Eternal salvation:

A. You can never lose it, even if you make mistakes and fall:

Psa.37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord unholdeth him with His hand
Jn.3:36a He that believeth on the Son...hath everlasting life
Jn.6:37 Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out
Jn.10:28 I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand
Rom.8:38,39 I am persuaded that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God...in Christ Jesus
1Cor.3:11-15 [If works are] wood, hay and stubble...shall be burned, yet he himself shall be saved
1Cor.5:5 Destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved
Heb.13:5b I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee
2Tim.2:13 Though we believe not, yet He abideth faithful
1Jn.5:13 Ye may know that ye have eternal life

B. But the Lord will chasten you for wrongdoing:

Psa.89:30-34 If they break My statutes...I will visit with the rod...(but) My lovingkindness will I not utterly take away
Heb.12:5-8 Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth
Rev.3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten

7. Receiving Jesus guarantees eternal life in Heaven:

Rom.6:23b The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
Jn.11:26 Whosoever...believeth in Me shall never die
Jn.14:2-3 In My Father's house are many mansions
1Pet.1:3,4 Incorruptible inheritance reserved in Heaven for you
1Jn.5:11 God hath given to us eternal life...in His Son
(See Rev.21:1-27 and 22:1-5 for a description of Heaven)

8. The results of being born again:

A. Spiritual rebirth makes you a new creature:

Jn.3:3b Except a man be born again, he cannot see Kingdom
Mat.18:3 Be converted and become as little children
Jn.1:13 Born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God
Rom.12:2a Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind
2Cor.5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature
1Pet.1:23 Born again, not of corruptible seed, but...by the Word of God

B. You will desire to work for Jesus:

Eph.2:10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works
Tit.2:14 (Jesus) gave Himself for us (to) purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works
(See also Eph.4:21-24; Col.3:8-10; Tit.3:8; Jam.2:18.)

9. Sin brings about spiritual death; but Jesus died in our place, taking our punishment:

Isa.59:1 Your iniquities have separated you and your God
Rom.6:23 The wages of (penalty for) sin is death
Rom.5:8 While we were sinners, Christ died for us
2Cor.5:21 He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for (in place of) us
1Jn.1:9 If we confess our sins, He [will] forgive and cleanse us
1Jn.2:1,2 We have an advocate...Jesus Christ. He is the propitiation for...the sins of the whole world

10. In the Mosaic law, blood is payment for sin; Jesus' death paid that price in full:

Lev.17:11 It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul
Heb.9:22 Without shedding of blood is no remission [of sin]
Mat.26:28 My blood...shed for the remission of sins
1Jn.1:7 The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin
Jn.1:29 The Lamb of God, which taketh away sin of the world
Eph.1:7 We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (See also 1Jn.2:12)
1Pet.1:18,19 Ye were redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ

11. All men are not saved sons of God in their natural state:

Eph.2:2,3,12 Ye were children of disobedience, children of wrath, aliens and strangers without Christ
Mat.7:13 Wide is the gate...that leadeth to destruction, and many... go in thereat
Jn.3:19 Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light
Jn.8:44 Ye are of your father the devil
Jn.8:47 Ye hear (God's Words) not, because ye are not of God

12. The self-righteous refuse Jesus' salvation:

(See Mat.5:20; 9:10-13; 21:31b; Lk.18:9-14; Jn.5:39-44; Rom.10:3; 1Jn.1:9,10.)

13. New Testament examples of salvation:

Lk.19:1-10 [Conversion of the corrupt tax-collector, Zaccheus]
Acts 9:1-22 [Conversion of apostle Paul] (See also Acts 6:8-14; 7:57-60; 8:1-4; 26:9-11.)
Acts 10:1-8 [Conversion of Roman centurion Cornelius]
Acts 13:1-12 [Conversion of governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paulus]
Acts 16:13-34 [Conversion of the merchant Lydia and Roman jailor]

The Bible is clear about the eternal nature of the punishment of the wicked. "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:46). It is easy to see that Life is the same in duration as is the Punishment of the wicked. If one is temporary, so is the other. If hell is temporary, heaven is also temporary.

The New Testament use of the words eternal and everlasting makes it clear what they mean. It is "everlasting punishment" (Matt. 25:46). The fire is "everlasting fire" (Matt. 25:41). There will be "eternal damnation" for some (Mark 3:29). Now consider how other verses use these words.

1. God is everlasting. "According to the commandment of the everlasting God" (Romans 16:26). Does everlasting mean unending or temporary? Will God cease to exist?

2. The Holy Spirit is eternal. "Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God" (Heb. 9:14). Is the Holy Spirit temporary? When the world ends will he go out of existence?

3. Redemption is eternal. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption or will he have to be offered again? Is his work of redemption completed or was it for just for a brief time?

4. Salvation is eternal. "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9). Will obeying him still bring unending salvation?

5. The kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. The faithful will be in "the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:11).

If eternal punishment is temporary, does that mean God, the Holy Spirit, salvation, and the kingdom are temporary and will cease to exist? The same words in both Greek and English are used to describe the future punishment of the wicked that are used to describe God, the Spirit, salvation, and the kingdom. "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41).

There will be eternal punishment for the wicked but we can avoid it if we will live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).

By Albert Gardner