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I have had a lot of thoughts about
heaven and everlasting life, one thing that got me thinking
about this page and the idea for it was someone telling me
once what did I believe and did I know how to get to heaven.
Well I believe you have to be born again by asking the
Lord to forgive you of all of your sins and asking Jesus to
come into your life and lead your life and be your Savior.
Proclaiming publicly that Jesus is Lord of all and Lord of
your life. Try your hardest to live a Christian life and be a
good person showing love to all. No Christian is perfect but
we should try to live as God wants us to. Everybody on this
earth has faults only God the Father and Son are perfect and
God gave us free will to choose Him and make the decisions we
make.
Of course I haven't forgotten Grace only by the Grace of God
and it is a free gift from Jesus yours for the taking all you
have to do is ask him.
With the thought
of Heaven and Everlasting Life in my head I went searching for
scriptures that had those words in them to see what the Word
of God had to say.
Heaven
The
abode of God (I Kings 8:30) and of the angels
(Mark 13:32);
believers will be there in due course (I Pet. 1:4).
The New
Testament uses striking imagery to bring out the
wonder and
loveliness of heaven
(gates of pearl and a street of gold-
Rev. 21:21).
Heaven means eternal joy in the presence of God.
Eternal Life,
Reward, Judgement
The word "eternal"
means without beginning and without end, denoting a continual
existence including past, present, and future. As applied to
human existence, the Bible indicates that the spirit or soul
is indestructible and eventually returns to God who gave it
(Eccl. 12:7). This thought is expressed by Paul who attests to
God's overall plan whereby God is "all in all"
(I Cor.
15:24-28).
Thus, one might well say that eternal life includes
the present, or
"Today is the first day of the rest of your
eternal life." Just as there are
rewards for followers of Christ, there are judgments of the
works of both believers and nonbelievers. Jesus said that all
authority to judge the living and the dead is his (John
5:22;17:2; Acts 10:42;I Peter 4:5). In a sense, failure to
receive blessings because of failure to ask, asking wrongly,
or continued anxiety and fear by not heeding the teachings of
the Sermon on the Mount are all indicative of a present
judgment. As the proverbs say, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov. 28:1)
and "the way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at
what they stumble" (Prov. 4:16). As we have seen, Jesus assured
his listeners that a follower of his and a doer of his words
is assured of having his or her needs met and eternal life,
including the glories of the resurrection-life
(Mk. 10:28-30).
A righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward
(Matt. 10:41), and one who shows compassion in Jesus' name
will not lose his or her reward
(Matt. 10:42;Mk. 9:41). Those who reject the Father and the
Son will be judged, and punishment will be meted out for the
wrongs which they have committed
(Col. 3:25). They are as "cast into outer darkness where there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 22:13;24:51;
25:30).
Those who seek after the plaudits of men have their reward
(Matt. 6:2).
One should enter in by the "narrow gate" to life, for "broad
is the way which leads to destruction" (Matt. 7:13-14).
Therefore, one should not lay up for himself or herself
material treasures on earth, but should lay up treasures in
heaven, for "where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also"
(Matt. 6:19-21).
God is
merciful, and Jesus stands at the door and knocks.
If anyone hears his voice and opens the door, he will enter
and they shall dine together.
But there is a reckoning, and
the son of man will separate the "sheep" from the "goats."
Those
who have helped the less fortunate and have done it for Jesus
shall inherit the kingdom. Those who have not helped others
have failed Jesus and will receive punishment
(Matt.
25:31-46).
The meting out of judgment is portrayed in
Revelation depicting God as sitting on a great white throne
judging the dead according to their works. The books are
opened including the book of life. Anyone whose name is not
found in the book of life is subject to punishment.
It is
decreed that the enemies of God and mankind be cast into the
"lake of fire."
These include Satan, the false prophet, and
the beast who has opposed God, death, Hades, and "whoever was
not found written in the book of life"
(Rev. 20:10-15).
There is also described a new heaven, a new earth, and a new
Jerusalem in which there reside only those who are overcomers
and those who are "athirst of the fountain."
These are given
the water of life freely (Rev. 21:1-27).
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to
give every man according as his work shall be.
I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
and the last"
(Rev. 22:12-13).
How to see Heaven
John Chapter 3
1
There was a man of the Pharisees, named
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi,
we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is
old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be
born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know,
and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how
shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came
down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life.
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.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his
deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the
land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim,
because there was much water there: and they came, and were
baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John's
disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that
was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold,
the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except
it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the
Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend
of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly
because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is
fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is
earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is
above all.
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.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for
God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into
his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he
that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.
John 6 verse
46 - 48
I tell you the truth, he
who believes has everlasting life.
Daniel 12 verse
1-3
Multitudes who sleep in the
dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting
life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that
neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1st John
Chapter 5
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:
and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that
is begotten of him.
2 By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep
his commandments.
3 For this is the
love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith.
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.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the
Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in
one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God
is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath
testified of his Son.
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness
in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;
because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life.
13These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that
ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of
the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth
us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not
unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them
that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not
say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not
unto death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not;
but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that
wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world
lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath
given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,
and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
John 5:24
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.
John 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this?
Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto
thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in]
the pathway [thereof there is] no death.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life [are] in the power of the
tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift
of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be
spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
Galatians 6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the
Spirit reap life everlasting.
Psalms Chapter
103:17 -18
But the
mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's
children;18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those
that remember his commandments to do them.
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