God has left this choice up to us · •From what we have read so far, we can see that we will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. ... •We must go to what the Word of God says

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God has left this choice up to us

Where Will I Spend Eternity?

• This is a question many may not give much thought to.

• Many feel because they call themselves a “Christian” and because they are basically “good” people that they will go to Heaven.

• Many have never even considered the thought that they could be lost.

• What we want to do today is see what the Bible says about where we will spend our eternity.

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• The first thing we need to understand when considering this question is what are our options?

• The Bible is very clear about us having only two options. It will be either Heaven or Hell.

• There will be no middle ground for those of us who weren’t quite good enough to get into Heaven but really weren’t bad enough for Hell.

• It is going to be one or the other!


• Jesus speaks of only two options after this life.

• Mt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

• Joh 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

• 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

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• Paul tells the Roman Christians of only two options.

• Ro 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

• 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

• 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,


• John gives a very clear picture of what will happen on the day of Judgment and the only two options for man on that day.

• Re 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

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• Re 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

• 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

• 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

• We find in Rev 21 those who were written in the book of life went to Heaven.


• From what we have read so far, we can see that we will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell.

• So, back to our original question “Where will I spend eternity?”

• This is too important of a question to depend upon “how I feel”, “what I think” or “what the preacher said”.

• We must go to what the Word of God says in order to be sure of our answer.

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• Jesus tells us of two groups in this life.

• In order to know where we will spend eternity then we need to decide which of these groups we are a part of.

• Mt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.


• 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

• Are we part of the group entering by the wide gate or the narrow gate?

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• The broad gate is easy and most will enter by it.

• The narrow gate is difficult and only few will find it

• If we want to know where we will spend eternity then we need to ask ourselves am I a member of the Majority or the Minority when it comes to religious matters?

• The “few” are going to have difficulties in this life because they have chosen to serve God.


• If we are not having some difficulties in life because we are serving God then we are not part of the few who are entering by the narrow gate.

• Listen to what Paul tells Timothy

• 2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

• This is not talking about just having problems in this life. Everyone has those. Instead these are problems brought on because we are serving God.

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• Some believe they will spend eternity in Heaven because of their sincerity in religious matters.

• We must be sincere in our service to God but sincerity is not enough.

• Let’s look at the example of Cornelius


• Ac 10:1 ¶ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

• 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

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• By any mans standards Cornelius was a good man.

• There is no questioning his sincerity in serving God. Even the Bible says he feared God!

• Even with all of his good deeds, his fear of God, his prayers and his sincerity Cornelius was still in a lost condition.

• This is why the angel told him to send for Peter.

• Ac 11:14 'who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'


• As good of a man as Cornelius was, he was lost until he heard and obeyed the saving words taught by Peter.

• Paul is another example of someone who was sincere and had a clear conscience but was still lost.

• Ac 23:1 ¶ Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.“

• Paul had a clear conscience his entire life even when he was persecuting Christians.

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• Ac 26:9 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

• 10 "This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.


• 11 "And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

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• If being sincere doesn’t tell me where I will spend eternity.

• If having a clear conscience doesn’t tell me where I will spend eternity.

• Then what does?

• The Word of God!


• God’s Word teaches there is a combination of things we must do in order to make it into Heaven.

• The very basis of our salvation is Belief.

• The fact that we must believe in order to be saved is emphasized over and over in the New Testament.

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• Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

• Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.


• But is belief or faith alone enough to get me into Heaven?

• Many feel that it is but what does the Bible say?

• Listen to what James says about being saved by “Faith only”

• Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

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• 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

• He says faith that is not coupled with works is dead.

• Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

• James tells us it is simply not enough to just believe we must have works to go along with our faith.


• Even Jesus said we will be rewarded according to our works.

• Mt 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

• If I want to know that I am going to spend eternity in Heaven then I must believe and do some work.

• But what work?

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• In order to get the answer to “what works?” then we must once again go to the Word of God.

• Paul tells Timothy the word of God tells us all the good works that we can do.

• 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:


• 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

• Question: If the Bible furnishes us all the good works that we can do, then how many good works can we find outside the Bible?

• The answer is none!

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• Since that is the case then we must go to the word of God to find the Good Works that will help get us into Heaven.

• What were the early Christians told to do to be saved?

• We know they had to believe but what were they to believe?

• Ro 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

• Paul says we must hear and believe the Word of God.


• The early Christians were also told to Repent of their sins.

• Ac 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

• 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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• They were also told to Confess Christ.

• Listen to what Jesus says:

• Lu 12:8 "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.


• This is what the Ethiopian Eunuch did.

• Ac 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

• 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

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• After confessing Christ then we are to be Baptized in water for the remission of sins.

• We’ve already seen where they were told to be baptized on the day of Pentecost

• Also the Ethiopian Eunuch realized from the teachings of Philip that he needed to be baptized.


• Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) was also told to be baptized to wash away his sins.

• Ac 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

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• Not only are our sins forgiven in baptism it is also the only way into the body of Christ.

• Ro 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

• Ga 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

• You may be thinking to yourself “I have been baptized”

• Many denominations practice what they call baptism in various ways and for various reasons.


• If you weren’t baptized, which means immersed in water, understanding it was for the forgiveness of sins then all you did was get wet.

• We must have an understanding that our sins are not forgiven until we are baptized.

• We cannot believe that our sins were forgiven at the point of faith and then be baptized for the for the forgiveness of sins.

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• After doing all of this we must remain faithful to God for the rest of our lives.

• Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

• Most of the New Testament is made up of letters to Christians instructing and encouraging them to hold on to God until this life is over.

Conclusion

• I can know where I will spend eternity.

• It is going to be in either Heaven or Hell

• The majority of mankind will spend eternity in Hell

• Only those who believe and then obey the Gospel of Christ will make it into Heaven.

• Have I done what is required of me in order to make it into Heaven?

• If not then we know where we will spend eternity.

Documents

God has left this choice up to us · •From what we have read so far, we can see that we will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. ... •We must go to what the Word of God says