You need Jesus.

I. GOD LOVES YOU and desires that you:
1. Have eternal life with Him.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16
2. Have an abundant and meaningful life.
Jesus said, ‘… I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.’
John 10:10

But most people aren’t experiencing a meaningful life and aren’t sure that they have eternal life because…

II. Man has a SIN problem that SEPARATES him from GOD.
1. Everyone has sinned.
… For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….
Romans 3:23 (also ESV, NIV)
2. The penalty for sin is DEATH.
For the wages of sin is death….
Romans 6:23 (also ESV, NIV)

The Bible talks about two kinds of death. The first death is physical. The second death is spiritual or eternal separation from God.
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the Second Death.
Revelation 21:8

Because sin separates man from God, what is the solution to his problem?

III. JESUS CHRIST is God’s ONLY way to heaven.
1. He is the ONLY way.
Jesus said… ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’
John 14:6
2. He COMPLETELY PAID the penalty of your sins.
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God….
1 Peter 3:18
3. His resurrection proves that He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the only Savior.
… Concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord….
Romans 1:3-4
4. He promises Eternal Life.
Jesus said … ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die….’
John 11:25-26

However, merely knowing what Jesus Christ has done for us is not enough.

IV. We must place our FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST to save us.
1. You are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

To be saved by faith means to TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE to save you. Good works are not the means to salvation; rather, they are the byproducts or evidence of your salvation.

2. Show your faith in Jesus Christ by accepting His gift of eternal life.
[Jesus says,] ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.’
Revelation 3:20

Jesus says that He will come into your heart if you invite Him in. That is His promise to you, and He will always keep His promise!

3. Prove the sincerity of your faith by turning away from a life of sin.
I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. A person who genuinely asks for forgiveness will seek to change his ways.
Acts 26:20 (NIV)

God knows we are not perfect, but the sincerity of our faith will move us to live lives that show our gratitude to God for His free gift of heaven.

You can pray this simple prayer to express your faith in Jesus Christ and to receive Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. You only have to pray this prayer once, but with sincerity, because when He enters your life, he will never leave you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I need You. I confess that I am a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross to pay for all my sins. With your help, I will turn away from all my sins. Please come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. I accept your free gift of eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Thank you for coming into my life and giving me eternal life. Amen.