Little Mountain Baptist Church - How Do I Get to Heaven?

"How do I get to Heaven?" is without a doubt the most important question ever asked by anyone. Most of the questions we ask only affect us for time and usually a short amount of time but this question effects us for eternity. In asking people this question answers will surly vary. Some would probably tell us to join various religious groups. Others would tell us to maintain the highest moral character we possible can. Others might tell us to do all of the good deeds that we can possible do and perform good works for our follow man in hopes that our good might out weigh our bad when we stand before God. Since this question bears eternal consequences, it would be wise to take a serious look at what God says about it in His holy book, "The Bible".

Everyone needs to be forgiven.
The scripture says "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."(Romans 3:10) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"(Romans 3:23) Mankind is a sinner and the very best that we can do is not enough to meet the righteous demand of a holy God. You may be a person of moral integrity and have a strict code of conduct in your life, but you are still a sinner in the eyes of God. The sin nature was passed down from our forefather and mother Adam and Eve. "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".(Romans 5:12) Because like begets like when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden they fell into sin and passed that nature on to all of their descendants.

God provides salvation for all who will receive it.
God looked at man in his lost condition and extended love and grace to him. God knew that man, within himself, could never be made right and meet God's holy requirements to enter Heaven. So God the Father provided a sinless Savior, His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He was sinless He was the only one who could die for another and provide redemption. "For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."(II Corinthians 5:21) God has made salvation available to all. But we must receive it. "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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."(Romans 10:9,10) Most people believe the account of Jesus Christ as a matter of history but believing in him as a historical figure is not enough. There are two key elements in receiving Jesus as your Savior: repentance and faith. "God….commandeth all men everywhere to repent."(Acts 17:30) Repentance simply means to have change of mind about God and about sin. This change of mind coupled with faith will bring about a change of direction or turning from self and sin to God.. .To exercise saving faith in Christ means to believe that His death on the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead was done personally for you that you might be forgiven and saved. You are to trust Him and Him alone to get you to Heaven.

If you need or want someone to discuss this with, please feel free to call the church at 336-374-2342. If there is no answer, please leave a message, and your call will be returned as soon as possible. If you prefer, please feel free to e-mail us. Again, your message will be answered as soon as possible. All conversations and messages will be treated confidentially.

Assurance of salvation
We can know that we have been saved because of the assurances that God who cannot lie gives us in His word. While it makes us feel good to know that we have been forgiven and are on our way to heaven we should not trust in our feelings. We are saved by faith, not by feelings. Feelings may change with circumstances, but faith in Christ remains. One assurance that God gives us is that the burden of guilt has been replaced with peace. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"(Romans 5:1) Another is(Romans 10:13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." We have a love for the things and people of God that we did not have before. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."(I John 3:14) And finally, good works. Good works are the results of salvation and not the means of salvation. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works."(Ephesians 2:10)

What should you do now that you are saved
The first thing that you should do is to give thanks to God for His love, mercy and grace in saving you. Then you should share your experience with others by telling them what God has done for you. Now you should find a good Bible believing, preaching, and teaching local church and unite with them as a member. There you can follow the Lord in believer's baptism, be taught the word of God, have fellowship with other Christians, and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. Being a part of a local church will help you in witnessing to others who do not know Christ as Savior. Remember to maintain fellowship with your heavenly Father by daily prayer and Bible reading. It is two way communication, God speaks to us through the scriptures, and we speak to Him through prayer. May God richly bless you on your journey through life to Heaven.