Heaven Is Just Four Steps Away

From Any Place on Earth

How Far Away Is Heaven?• Not matter where you live on earth, you are just four steps

away from heaven

• Heaven is not far from any of one us (Deut. 30:11-14; Rom. 10:6-8)

• Romans 10:6-8 (NKJV) 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

How Far Away Is Heaven?• Some are not far from the kingdom of heaven (Mk.

12:34)

Mark 12:34 (NKJV)

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But after that no one dared question Him.

• Heaven is just four steps away!

Step 1: Admit

• We all must admit that we have sinned

Romans 3:23 (NKJV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:12 (NKJV) 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

1 John 1:8 (NKJV) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Step 1: Admit• We must all admit what sin is – a violation of God’s law

1 John 3:4 (NKJV) 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

1 John 5:17 (NKJV) 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Step 1: Admit

We must all admit what we are in sin: separated

Isaiah 59:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

lost

Luke 19:10 (NKJV) 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Step 1: Admit

in bondage : John 8:34 (NKJV) 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

Dead Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV) 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

in darkness Colossians 1:13 (NKJV) 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Step 1: Admit• We must all admit that we need a savior - Jesus

Philippians 3:20 (NKJV) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Luke 2:11 (NKJV) 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Acts 13:23 (NKJV) 23 From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus.

Step 1: Admit

• The following admitted that they were wrong, saying “I have sinned”:

– Achan (Josh. 7:20)

– David (2 Sam. 12:13)

– Judas (Mt. 27:4)

– Prodigal son (Lk. 15:21)

• Are you willing to admit the same?

Step 2: Submit• We must all submit to the precepts and commands of the

Savior

• Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

• John 14:15 (NKJV) 15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

• Romans 6:17 (NKJV) 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

Step 2: Submit• Hebrews 5:8 (NKJV) 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned

obedience by the things which He suffered.

• James 1:21-22 (NKJV) 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

• James 1:25 (NKJV) 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Step 2: Submit• We must submit to what Jesus says, not to what we feel or what others

say

• Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV) 23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

• Matthew 7:21-22 (NKJV) 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'

• (Mt. 7:21-22; 15:9; 17:5)

Step 2: Submit• Matthew 15:9 (NKJV)

• 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

• Matthew 17:5 (NKJV)

• 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

Step 2: Submit

Submitting means that we obey what Jesus says…

• In the way he says it (Lev. 10:1-2; 2 Sam. 6:6-7)

• For the purpose he says it (Mt. 6:1-18)

• No matter what the cost (Lk. 9:23-26,57-62; 14:25-33)

• Not matter how foolish it sounds (Josh. 6; 2 K. 5; 1 Cor. 1:18,21,25,27)

Step 3: Commit

• We all must commit our life completely to God (Psa. 37:5; Prov. 3:5; 16:3; Acts 14:23)

• We must all commit our troubles to God (Psa. 55:22; 1 Pet. 2:21,23; 4:19; 5:7)

• We commit by letting go and relinquishing control to a higher power – God (illus. in Acts 27:40, KJV)

• We commit so that we don’t go backward on our first two steps

Step 4: Transmit

• We must all transmit the image of Christ into our life (Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 11:1; Gal. 2:20; 4:19; Col. 1:27; 3:10)

• We transmit by being transformed (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; metamorphosis)

• We transmit by being translated (2 Cor. 3:2; Psa. 37:31; Col. 1:13)

Just Four Steps Away

• We are a step away from death (1 Sam. 20:3)

• We are nearer to salvation than when we first believed (Rom. 13:11)

The First Steps Are Hard

• A child’s first steps are usually difficult … there will be hardships and hindrances at first; then, the rewards will follow

• Admit, submit, commit, and transmit: taking these four steps may be challenging, but you can and must take them today!

• Only a step!