YOU CAN’T GO TO HEAVEN!

Intro.

1.     The teacher asked her Bible class, “Now, how many of you would like to go to heaven?”  All the children raised their hands except Tommy.  The teacher asked Tommy why he wouldn't like to go to heaven.  Tommy answered, “I'm sorry, but I can't. My mother told me to come home right after Sunday school.”

2.     Sadly, some people can’t go to heaven.

    a.     It is not because God does not want them to go there – 1 Tim. 2:4 (Jno. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:9).

    b.     It will be because of their own sin – Ezek. 18:4, 20; Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 1:20; 3:23; 6:23.

3.     Nobody will go to heaven by accident! - 2 Tim. 4:7-8

-You CanNOT Go to Heaven IF YOU DO NOT…

·   Become a Christian!

1.     Plan of salvation (faith, repentance, confession of faith, baptized - Jno. 8:23-24; Lk. 13:3, 5; Rom. 10:9-10).

    2.     Obtain redemption from your sins – (a releasing effected by payment of ransom; thus, deliverance, liberation from bondage).

        a.     Redemption is in Christ – Rom. 3:24 (Matt. 20:28).

        b.     Through His blood – Eph. 1:7.

        c.     Baptized into His death (benefits, blood) – Rom. 6:3 (Gal. 3:27).

        d.        Ransom price (the blood of Christ) applied – Acts 22:16.

·   Live by Faith – 2 Cor. 5:7.

1.     Faith is inseparably connected to how we live – Heb. 11:1-16.

2.     Faith anchors our hope & expresses our love for Christ – 1 Pet. 1:3-9.

·   Do the Will of the Father – Matt. 7:21; cf. Jno. 5:30; 6:38.

1.     Give up your own will, feelings, etc. – Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23.

    2.     Your objective in life is to do God’s will in all things – 2 Cor. 5:9 (Jno. 8:29); Rev. 22:14.

·   Strive to Enter Heaven – Lk. 13:24.

1.     Strait way (confined, narrow) – Matt. 7:13-14.

2.     Forcefully pursue entrance – cf. Lk. 16:16.

3.     Righteous saved with difficulty (strenuous effort) - 1 Pet. 4:17-18.

4.     Remove every obstacle which hinders the path to heaven - Heb. 12:1-2.

·   Live a Righteous & Holy Life – 1 Pet. 1:13-17.

    1.     Crucify the flesh – Gal. 5:24 (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21). 

    2.     Do not love the world [materialism, covetousness (idolatry, Col. 3:5), etc.] – 1 Jno. 2:15-17.

·   Set Heaven as Your Goal & Live for Heavenly Things – Col. 3:1-4; Phil. 3:17-21.

    1.     Endure to the end – Matt. 10:22; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 2:10

    2.     Establish & keep right priorities – Lk. 12:31-32 [cf. Unselfishness – Lk. 16:19-25 (12:15-21)].

    3.     Make every sacrifice necessary to serve Christ – Lk. 9:23-26

Conclusion

1.     You CAN go to heaven! – Jno. 14:1-3

2.     The question is:  WILL you go to heaven?!