“What Will Happen When I Die?” – Lighthouse Baptist Church of Wichita, KS

Jesus’ Answer to the Question

Jesus answered the question with two distinct answers. First, those people who will not repent (turn from their sins) will perish. “I tell you,” says Jesus. “Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3 & 5)

Jesus warned frequently of perishing in a place called hell. In Matthew 25:41 He describes His future judgment against sinners in which he will condemn them saying, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:…”

Second, Jesus describes another group of people who have been made clean from their sins. These people are granted entrance into God’s eternal kingdom. “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:34)

Jesus summaries the two destinations in Matthew 25:46, “And these [the sinners] shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

Jesus’ Qualifications to Answer the Question

Unlike other philosophers and religious leaders, Jesus proved that he was qualified to answer the question by bodily raising himself from the dead. (John 10:18; Acts 2:32)

Jesus showed himself alive to many people who were to be witnesses of his resurrection. He appeared to multiple women who followed him (Luke 24:10), his 11 apostles (Acts 1:3), other disciples (e.g. Luke 24:13-32) (including 500 disciples at one time; 1 Corinthians 15:6), to his half-brother James who was a skeptic and became a believer (1 Corinthians 15:7; see also Galatians 1:19), and last of all to Paul (a.k.a. Saul) who hated and persecuted Christians but became a believer when Jesus appeared to him (Acts 9:1-9).

Modern skeptics have tried to explain away the evidence of the resurrection by accusing the witnesses of having hallucinations, but this accusation does not work because Jesus appeared to multiple people at the same time where he spent long periods of time with them, interacting with them verbally and physically (Luke 24:13-33; John 21). He met multiple women as they returned from the empty tomb and allowed them to touch him (Matthew 28:29). He appeared to the apostles and other disciples where he proved that he wasn’t a spirit or vision by both eating food and having the disciples touch him, including the wounds in his hands where they nailed him to the cross and the wound in his side where the soldier pierced him with a spear (Luke 24:36-48; John 20:25-31).

On top of that if the disciples were just hallucinating, the religious leaders could have produced the body of Jesus, but later that same year, when the apostles of Jesus began publicly preaching that Jesus rose from the dead, they could not produce a body. Instead, they began arresting the apostles, threatening them and beating them physically (Acts 4-5). The apostles and their followers were persecuted and thrown into prison (Acts 8:1-4; Acts 12:3-5; 1 Corinthians 4:9-13). Some were even killed (Acts 7:57-60; Acts 12:1-2), including the apostle James. The apostle Paul was originally an enemy of Christians, overseeing the death of Stephen and casting many into prison (Acts 8:1-4). As he went about his persecutions, Paul testified that the risen Jesus appeared to him, and he became a follower of Jesus. Paul went to Jerusalem and confirmed what God had revealed to him (Galatians 1:11-19). There the apostles clearly confirmed that their story of the resurrection of Jesus was the same as what Paul was teaching (Galatians 2:1-9).

Paul summarizes what the early church and apostles of Jesus taught about the resurrection by writing…

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-8, 11
1. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
…
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5. And that he was seen of Cephas*, then of the twelve:
6. After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
…
Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

* Cephas is one of the names for the apostle Peter. (John 1:42)

There are many people who willing suffer persecution, but it is highly unlikely that the apostles would suffer such persecution for Jesus if they conspired to lie about his resurrection. The evidence clearly indicates that the apostles suffered greatly for their claim that Jesus rose again, and even scholars who are skeptics acknowledge that the apostles came to believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that they believed Jesus gave them a commission to spread the good news* of his death, burial and resurrection.

* The word “gospel” means “good news”.

Now, if Jesus truly raised Himself back from the dead, then it becomes clear that Jesus is qualified to answer our question and tell us what will happen when we die.

Jesus Christ Is Lord

The apostle Thomas wasn’t with the rest of the apostles when Jesus first appeared to them on that first Sunday when He was risen from the dead. He was skeptical and refused to believe their report, but eight days later Jesus appeared to them again and confronted Thomas. After seeing Jesus alive and touching the wounds in his hands and side Thomas humbled himself and acknowledged Jesus saying,

“My Lord and my God.” John 20:28

Jesus was the one who spoke and created all things. We see this in the gospel of John where Jesus is introduced as “the Word”.

John 1:1-3
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made

Jesus wasn’t just a special prophet, Jesus was God.

It may be difficult for some to understand how, but the Bible teaches that there is one, and only one, God. Yet, within the one God there are three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirt.

1 John 5:5-7
5. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

As our creator, Jesus Christ has complete authority over our lives.

John 5:22-23
22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

The Law of God Reveals the Truth about People

Sin (verb): To depart voluntarily from the path of duty prescribed by God man; to violate the divine law in any particular, by actual transgression or by the neglect or non-observance of its injunctions; to violate any known rule of duty. (Source: Noah Webster’s dictionary online.)

When God created people there was no sin in the world, yet God gave people free will, the freedom to chose whether they would obey or disobey. The first two people created by God, quickly chose to disobey, bringing sin into the world (Genesis 3).

Romans 5:12
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.

As people, we generally consider ourselves good, yet if we compare ourselves to a perfect moral standard we might be surprised with what we find out.

The apostle Paul was like this before meeting Jesus. In his mind, he was a good follower of God, but this was far from the truth. Paul was living in rebellion to God’s righteousness. He thought that he was spiritually alive, but in reality, he was spiritually dead. Paul later wrote about the law of God—the same law given to Moses, including the 10 commandments. He tells how the law of God revealed the truth to him.

“For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once.” (Romans 7:8b-9a) Before he understood the law of God, he though that he was spiritually alive. Like a man who is unaware of his disease and does not think that he needs medical help, Paul was alive spiritually in his mind. But in reality, he was spiritually dead.

“… but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Romans 7:9b) When Paul finally understood the law, he realized that he disobeyed the commandments. Did the law make him a sinner? No, it simply revealed the sin that was in him by comparing him to the perfect moral standard of God.

Romans 7:7
7. What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Because of his disobedience, Paul was under the curse of the law, making him spiritually dead and under condemnation by God. Paul explained the curse of the law in another letter where he says,

Galatians 3:10
10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

All it took was one sin and he no longer qualified for spiritual life under the conditions of the law. In fact, no one qualifies for spiritual life under the law.

… for there is no man that sinneth not. (1 Kings 8:46)

Examine Yourself

Consider yourself. God’s perfect law says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” Have you ever told a lie?

Have you ever taken anything that wasn’t yours, no matter how small? It’s not how much someone takes that makes them a thief. God’s perfect law says, “Thou shalt not steal.”

Have you ever been jealous of someone else or something they had? Have you ever been discontent with what God has given you? Your abilities? Your appearance? God’s law clearly states, “Thou shalt not covet!”

Have you ever acted in a lustful way towards another person? Have you ever chosen to have a lustful though in your heart? Jesus expands upon the earlier scriptures and shows how high God’s commandments really are when he said,

Matthew 5:27-28
27. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Have you ever “lost your temper” or spoken an unkind word? The Bible has much to say against those things. James, the half-brother of Jesus and the man who later became the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, wrote the following scripture in the Bible.

James 3:5-10
5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Ancient king Solomon, who was given a special gift of wisdom by God, points out the wicked things that have been spoken by everyone’s mouth, whether we spoke them publicly or just “under our breath.”

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22
21. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
22. For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

God Requires Justice

We as people have many ideas of what God must be like. We tend to emphasis that God is merciful and loving, and the Bible does talk about those aspects of God. Yet, our imagination of what God is like and what God will do is often based on subjective opinions. With a spiritual being so immensely great and beyond our understanding we must not think that our intuitions can accurately predict the nature of God.

The only way we can discover what God is like is to find out what He tells us about Himself in the Bible, which are the writings in which God reveals Himself to us.

The book of Romans in the Bible gives us a list of some of the sins that can be committed against God, including lust, covetousness, pride, boasting of things that are not true, and being disobedient to parents (Romans 1:18-32). And then it says the following…

Romans 2:1-11
1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
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,
9. Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10. But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11. For there is no respect of persons with God.

Everyone who has disobeyed God is under God’s judgment. This is the curse of the law we mentioned above. (“… for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10)

The book of Romans goes on to explain more about God’s judgment. It reveals the troubling reality that every one of us have disobeyed and are under the curse of the law.

Romans 3:9-12
9. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

These verses pronounce all of us as guilty, saying that “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” This is surprising since we like to think of ourselves as good people, but don’t forget this is good according to God’s objective standard.

Romans 3 lists just a few of the sins of which people are guilty. For example, God describes the wicked things we have said as being like an open grave (with a rotting corpse in it). All of us can find ourselves in at least several of the sins which are listed.

Romans 3:13-18
13. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15. Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16. Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17. And the way of peace have they not known:
18. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This seems strong. Most of us would testify that we haven’t been swift to shed the innocent blood of anyone (murder)*. Yet all of us have used deceit and spoken with unkind words. God uses the book of James to give us a more complete explanation. We begin to understand when remember what Paul said. Any failure to keep any of the law renders us guilty before God.

* Although we should understand that the Bible has a higher standard than just the act of murder. 1 John 3:15 says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

Galatians 3:10b “… Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

The book of Romans has good news about how we can be forgiven of our sins, but until you understand that God judges sin and that your sins have condemned you, He will not forgive you.

Romans 3:19-23
19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Before we look at what the Bible says about forgiveness of sins, you must understand that these scriptures about the judgment of God are not hypothetical figures of speech as some people try to say.*

* “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

The Bible is full of warnings about God’s judgement. How foolish we would be if we ignore them! Here is just a sample…

Daniel 12:1-2
1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said,
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Luke 13:24 Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God as His house and said,
24. Strive to enter in at the strait [or narrow] gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Revelation 20:11-15
11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:6-8
6. And he [Jesus] said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

And lest we think that others will perish because they are greater sinners than we are…

Luke 13:1-5
1. There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

How Can God Both Be Just and Merciful?

The word gospel means “good news”. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for all people.

Luke 2:9-14
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

God loves every person in the world and desires that they enter into His eternal kingdom with Him.

Isaiah 45:22
22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

But… how? How can God both judge people for their sins and be a merciful God who love all people? How can both the justice of God be satisfied and the forgiveness of God be given?

God is the one who gives us the answer. Yet, before we get to the final answer, you need to understand something about the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament in the Bible.

Under the Law given on Mount Sinai, animals were sacrificed for the sins of the people. The animal had to be a “clean” animal who was spotless and without blemish or flaws. The animal would be killed, and the blood would be “shed” (drained out of the body).

If they trusted God, faithfully offering the sacrifices demanded by the laws, God said that their sins would be “atoned” (covered over). You can think of this like a book, a legal record where the sins of a person are written down. The idea of “atoning” is that God takes a pen and marks out what is written down so that the account of the sins is covered over, and that person is no longer condemned legally by the record of sins. It’s been blotted, or marked, out.

Although God commanded them to sacrifice animals, the sacrifices were never sufficient to take away their sins. There were times when the Israelites offered animals sacrifices, but God refused their sacrifices because of the wickedness in their hearts (e.g. Isaiah 1).

The Bible explains in the book of Hebrews that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were never able to take away sins because they were only a picture of something better that was coming.

Hebrews 10:1-4
1. For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Jesus Christ was the was the sinless, perfect, spotless sacrifice for sin. The justice of God was satisfied when Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for sin on the cross, and salvation was freely offered to all who will put their trust in God.

John 3:16-18
16. 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.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. 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.

Jesus, the Spotless Lamb of God

John 1:29-34
29. The next day John [the Baptist] seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus is the eternal God. We say that He is co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. But because God loves the world and desires that all people be saved, Jesus willingly limited himself, laying aside his powers as God for a time, and became man. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, his earthly mother before she had been with a man so that Jesus was conceived as a baby in her womb. (Luke 1:26-35; Matthew 1:18-25) At any time He could have exercised his infinite powers as God to take away the weakness and pains that he experienced, but Jesus humbled himself as a servant.

Philippians 2:5-8
5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus was around 30 years old when He began his earthly ministry and performed his first miracle. He began going through out the regions of Israel and preaching that men should repent and believe the good news that He brought (e.g. Mark 1:14-15).

John 8:21-24, 30-32, 34-36
21. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
…
30. As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
…
34. Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 10:7-11, 17-21, 24
7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
…
17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
…
24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30. I and my Father are one.

The Death of Jesus

When the time came, Jesus allowed Himself to be betrayed, arrested and put on trial. He was beaten, mocked, and falsely accused. Although Pilate, the Roman governor, found no fault in Jesus, he gave into the demands of the Jews when they cried “Crucify him!” After being taken out of the city, Jesus was hung on a cross for 6 hours. The religious Jewish leaders mocked him. The thieves who hung on crosses beside him mocked him.

The prophecy in Isaiah 53 explains what was happening.

Isaiah 53:3-8, 10a
3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
…
10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,…

We call this the substitutionary atonement for sin. God’s wrath against the sin of mankind was poured out again Jesus. “He was wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities”. When it says “the chastisement of our peace“ this describes how that God punished Jesus on the cross so that we could have peace with God (Compare Romans 1:18 with Romans 5:1). For three hours on the cross God brought darkness over the land as Jesus was separated from God the Father because of the sins that he bore for us.

Matthew 27:45
45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Now, there was a sacrifice in the Old Testament which in particularly gives us a picture of the death of Jesus. Once a year, there was a special day called the Day of Atonement. On that day the high priest would go alone into the inner most chamber of the Tabernacle where the ark of the covenant was kept. There on the ark of the covenant was the mercy seat, representing the presence of God. The priest would take with him the blood of a sacrifice for the sins of the nation and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat.

The inner most chamber, also known as the Holy of Holies, was inaccessible to anyone but the high priest, and that was only once a year. The Gospel accounts in the Bible record how that at the end of the three hours of darkness Jesus cried out “It is finished” and died. At that moment, the curtain separating the rest of the temple from the Holy of Holies was torn in two.

Mark 15:37-38
37. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

The sacrifice of Jesus opened the way for every person to get access to the presence of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Contrasting Jesus with the priests of the Old Testament the book of Hebrew records the following.

Hebrew 10:11-20
11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12. But this man [Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
…

The earthly Tabernacle where the priest entered the inner most Holy of Holies, was just a picture of the heavenly tabernacle where God the Father is seated on His Throne. Jesus entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven with his own blood, which He offered to God the Father as the appeasement for the sins of the world.

Hebrews 9:24-28
24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

That Whosoever Believeth in Him Should Not Perish but Have Everlasting Life

Romans 6:23
23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is freely offering you the gift of eternal life. If you will accept this gift, you will receive forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:12-14
12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

God’s forgiveness in the Bible is like a legal pardon. It must be accepted. A president may issue a pardon, forgiving someone of their crime and setting them free, but the pardon will only take affect if the recipient accepts it. The same is true of God’s gift of forgiveness.

The apostle John writes about Jesus,

John 1:10-12
10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12. 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:

How can you receive God’s free gift of eternal life and entrance into God’s eternal kingdom?

The apostle Paul and Silas were asked this question in the book of Acts.

Acts 16:31-32
31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?

#1. You must believe that there is one God, who created all things and has complete authority over your life.

You can’t believe on Jesus Christ if you don’t believe what he taught about Himself and God the Father.

Is 44:6, 24
6. Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
…
24. Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

Is 45:20-23
20. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
21. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Proverbs 1:7
7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 16:6
6. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

#2. You must agree with God about sin: That sin is wicked, that God’s judgement of sin is righteous, and that your sins have brought you under the condemnation of God judgement.

To believe on Jesus Christ is to believe what the Bible teaches about sin.

Psalm 197-11, 14
7. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
..
14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Romans 2:2-3
2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

#3. Repent of your sins!

Your sins have separated you from God. Yet you lack the ability to remove your own sins and cleanse yourself spiritually. You must turn from your sins and turn to God by coming to God and crying out for mercy and forgiveness.

Acts 3:19
19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
…
26. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Jesus said, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37b)

Humble yourself before the Almighty God, and He will forgive you. The blood of Jesus will cleanse you from your sin.

Luke 18:9-14
9. And he [Jesus] spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Psalm 51:1-4, 6, 9-10, 16-17
1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
…
6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
…
9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
…
16. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

#4. Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life.

Romans 10:8-13
8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9. 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.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

#5. Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:17, 20
17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
…
20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and said,

Acts 2:22-24, 32, 36
22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
…
32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
…
36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The apostle John writes about the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

John 20:19-20, 30-31
19. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
…
30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

#6. Believe that the teachings of Jesus and the Bible are good and true.

John the Baptist spoke of Jesus and said,

John 3:32-33
32. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

Matthew 7:24-29 Jesus said,
24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

2 Timothy3:14-17
14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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, throughly furnished unto all good works.

#7. Acknowledge that there is nothing you can do to earn forgiveness and eternal life but cast yourself on the mercies of God.

You will never be saved if you think that you are, or can be, good enough to go to heaven.

Many religious Israelites in the time of Jesus and the early church refused to come to Jesus for salvation. They fooled themselves into thinking that they could be good enough to be accepted into heaven. Jesus warned them,

John 5:37-40
37. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

The apostle Paul explains what went wrong for these Israelites. They could only be righteous in the eyes of God if they came and accepted the righteousness of Jesus on their behalf, but they refused.

Romans 9:31-32, 10:1-4
<chapter 9>
31. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law…
…
<chapter 10>
1. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Only by trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can you be saved. The moment you choose to believe this, God will cleanse you spiritually, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ will give you eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Moment You Believe

The moment you choose to believe these things in your heart, God gives you eternal life and forgives you of your sins. You will never again come under the condemnation of God, because the sacrifice of Jesus is applied to your life.

John 5:24
24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

You don’t have to pray a prayer to be saved, but I recommend that you stop and pray. Ask God to forgive you, and ask Him to show you what he wants you to do with your life. (Just like the apostle Paul did when he was saved in Acts 9:1-22.)

Know this, there is joy and rejoicing in heaven the moment you choose to put your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Luke 15:1-7
1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4. hat man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?|
5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

An old song writer put it well…

Oh, how well do I remember how I doubted day by day,
For I did not know for certain that my sins were washed away;
When the Spirit tried to tell me, I would not the truth receive;
I endeavored to be happy, and to make myself believe.

When the truth came close and searching, all my joy would disappear,
For I did not have the witness of the Spirit bright and clear;
If at times the coming judgment would appear before my mind,
Oh, it made me so uneasy, for God’s smile I could not find.

When the Lord sent faithful servants who would dare to preach the truth,
How my heart did so condemn me as the Spirit gave reproof!
Satan said at once, “ ’Twill ruin you to now confess your state;
Keep on working and professing, and you’ll enter heaven’s gate.”

But at last I tired of living such a life of fear and doubt,
For I wanted God to give me something I would know about,
So the truth would make me happy and the light would clearly shine,
And the Spirit give assurance that I’m His and He is mine.

So I prayed to God in earnest, and not caring what folks said;
I was hungry for the blessing; my poor soul, it must be fed;
Then at last by faith I touched Him, and, like sparks from smitten steel,
Just so quick salvation reached me, oh, bless God, I know it’s real!

But it’s real, it’s real;
Oh, I know it’s real;
Praise God, the doubts are settled,
For I know, I know it’s real!

“I’m a Christian Now. What Do I Do Next?”

Submit yourself to water baptism.

Go to church and submit yourself for water baptism. Water baptism is where each believer in Jesus declares publicly that they are a follower of Jesus.

Be faithful to go to church services and grow spiritually.

Jesus established His church for the perfecting of the saints and the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). The church is the “body” of Christ on earth, accomplishing the work of Jesus in the world (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Hebrews 10:23-25
23. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25. 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.

Ask the pastor for a good Bible.

When we become a Christian, we start out as “babes” in Christ who need to grow. Delight in and read the Bible every day!

1 Peter 2:2-3
2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

If you’re unsure of how important it is to ready and study the Bible, read Psalm 119. You will see that it’s critical for your life.

Psalm 119:97, 103-105
97. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
…
103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Talk to the pastor about discipleship training.

Christians who choose to go through discipleship training grow far more quickly as a child of God and experience greater joy and peace.

2 Peter 3:18
18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 119:165
165. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Isaiah 26:3
3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Philippians 3:13
13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.