November 18, 2006
Newsletter Archives

It is generally believed that it is not possible for anyone to be absolutely sure that they will be in heaven after death. If we were to ask most people if they are sure, they would say they hope so. To insist we can be sure will usually start a discussion about how one would know.
It’s not a new question. The disciple known as “doubting Thomas” questioned the Lord Jesus about the same subject. The Lord Jesus had just given the disciples assurance that He would come again for them to take them to His Father’s house. Thomas questioned, “Lord, how can we know the way?” John 14:5.
So how do we know? When can we be sure that we are really sure?
The primary error is the belief that we have to do good works to get to heaven. If that were so, we could never be sure. We would never know when we have done enough. Besides, we would still need some indication from God that He was satisfied. Otherwise we would still be in doubt until the day we died.
The answer to the problem is so simple that we stumble over it. In fact most people don’t believe it is that easy.
First, there is the question of sin. God views our sin as a debt that must be paid. Second, good deeds do not erase bad ones. So we can’t pay off our debt by undoing the bad with the good. Third, this is where the death of Christ takes on its deepest meaning. His death was provision for our debt of sin. That-and that alone- is God’s accepted means of removing our sin.
Yes, like any other debt, we have to accept the payment before we come into the good of it. Most people know about Christ. Very few have taken His death as payment for their sins. The apostle Paul wrote about it in the most personal way. He stated, “the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
Lastly, we want a receipt when a debt is paid and God gives us plenty of them. Every verse in the Bible that tells us that Christ died for our sins is a receipt that tells us that our debt is paid. It is a written guarantee.
The apostle John told the Christians exactly that. He wrote: “These 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….”1 John 5:13. The only reason we are in doubt is because we have never accepted the payment and we haven’t take the receipt.

Russ Nesbit