“What would you tell someone about getting to heaven?”

Which of the following will get you there?

1. Do your best?

2. Believe in God?

3. Be a good person?

4. Ten Commandments?

5. Get baptized as a baby?

6. Love your neighbor?

7. Confess your sins?

8. Go to church?

9. Last rites?

10. NONE OF THE ABOVE?

(The correct answer is number 10)

DEAR FRIEND, the others may make you "feel good" or even "spiritual" but they can't get you into heaven. Read on: Ever told a lie? Pinched something? or had sexual thoughts about someone else other than your wife or husband? If so, the Bible says that you are a lying, thieving adulterer! Now you may be thinking "Wow! That's a bit strong. I can't be that bad! There's a lot  worse than me! We don't think of ourselves as bad as "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: …" (Proverbs 21:2). But the Bible says we are not to compare ourselves to each other.

(2 Corinthians 10:12). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23).

WHAT ABOUT LITTLE SINS? There are no big or little sins in God's eyes. If you've done one - you're guilty of the whole lot. The Bible says: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10).

WILL GOD JUDGE SIN?

God's standard is 100% perfection so you must have a 100% perfect record or be condemned to hell.

WHAT'S GOD'S PENALTY? Murderers, fornicators

(premarital sex), idolaters (any love that replaces God e.g. sports), users of magical arts (astrologers) and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire.

(Revelation 21:8; I Corinthians 6:9-10). Thieves, adulterers, drunkards & swearers are condemned likewise.

SO WHAT'S HELL REALLY LIKE? The torment will be extreme and God won't let you kill yourself to end the pain. Purgatory is a made up lie to give relatives false hope & rip more money out of them through fear. But your family can't pray for you in purgatory. Why? You won't be there as it doesn't exist! On death, you will be in heaven or hell forever.

I'LL EARN MY WAY TO HEAVEN! If we could earn our way to heaven then Jesus didn't need to die for us. If you try to earn it or do something for it, it's called self-righteousness. The Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…" (Titus 3:5). WHAT ARE MY CHOICES?

Just two: - God's love or his wrath. No choice is a choice. Not choosing won't make it go away. Each second you delay, your eternity in hell is closer. Instead of coming to God and promising Him you'll "clean up your act", He's waiting for you to say: "I'm a sinner! I can't measure up to Your high standards! All I deserve is eternal hell fire. But I believe that Jesus paid my debt in full and trust on his sacrifice alone to save me forever."

IS BELIEVING ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO HEAVEN? Yes. The Bible says that Jesus shed his blood to pay for your sins and purchase your right standing with God. You can't earn, buy or work for it, as it is a gift - but you must believe on Jesus Christ to receive it. " But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."  (Romans 4:5).

WOULD A LOVING GOD SEND ME TO HELL?

He has no choice if you reject Jesus Christ. What more can he do for you? He's paid for your past, present and future sins!

"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 3:36)

DOES SATAN RULE IN HELL? No. Hell was made to cast Satan and his angels into for eternal torment - along with those who reject Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:10,14) You're not handed over to Satan for punishment for sins as he was defeated because of what Jesus did at the cross. Hell is God's everlasting punishment for those who reject Jesus Christ.

THIS IS YOUR ONLY HOPE... Even if we could do all those 9 things on the front of the tract, we'd still go to hell. These put our trust in our own efforts and not in Jesus Christ alone and his full and final payment for sin on the cross. WHAT WILL STOP YOU? Your love of sin, pride, unbelief or fear of friends will stop you from trusting alone in Jesus as your Saviour.

PRAY THIS PRAYER FROM YOUR HEART:

"DEAR GOD, I'm a sinner & deserve your wrath in hell. I believe Jesus died for my sins with his shed blood as total payment. I am now trusting in him alone to save me. AMEN"

www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com

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Mt Gravatt East 4122.