What happens to a person after death?
Everyone seems to have a different point of view, whether it is reincarnation, paradise, soul sleep, nirvana, or Heaven. The Bible tells us that Heaven is the place where the one true God dwells, and it tells the way we get to Heaven after we die. But people often follow the empty traditions of men instead of the Word of God.
Many people say:
“I am religious.”
Most people think that sacraments, baptism, attending a place of worship or being involved in religious duties will save them from eternal judgment. But the Bible makes it clear that religious duties and devotion to God do not give us eternal life. In fact, it was to a very religious man that Jesus said,
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
“I’m not a bad person.”
People often compare themselves to someone else when they say they are “good’, but the Bible tell us “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12). Every person has broken God’s laws many times in their life, and we are each guilty as lawbreakers, no matter how much good we think we’ve done. God makes it clear in the Bible that it is “not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” (Titus 3:5).
“God is too loving to send anyone to Hell.”
This sounds good, but is it true? Although the God of Heaven is a God of love, He is also a just God that will not “acquit the wicked” (Nahum 1:3). Although He does not delight in seeing men judged for their sin, He cannot overlook sin and has warned of the consequences for men doing what is right in their own eyes. The Bible clearly warns us that at the day of judgment, “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15).
THE ONLY HOPE OF MANKIND
THE ONLY HOPE OF MANKIND
The religious traditions of men cannot solve the problem of our sin! This is why the Creator came to earth in the form of a man, Jesus Christ–God in the flesh. He came to pay the price that we owe for our sin and to save us from judgment. You might ask, “what must I do to be saved?”
The Bible tells us plainly what God says:
First, know that God loves you!
He told us “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.” (John 3:16). Regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, your Creator loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.
Second, understand that everyone is a sinner.
The Bible tells us that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), meaning that every person has made a deliberate choice to do what they knew was wrong. This is called sin, it eternally separates us from God, and every single person is a sinner, without exception.
Third, you must know that sin has a price that you cannot pay.
Again, the Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), not just physical death, but eternal, spiritual separation from God. God warns us that all sinners “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8).
You must understand that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to this world to pay the price for sin. He died upon a cross, was buried, and after three days rose again from the dead. He shed His blood and made the only payment for sin that could be made–God dying for His creation.
If you will repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness, God will save you from eternal judgment and give you everlasting life and a home in Heaven!
How to receive God’s free gift
The following short prayer may help you to make a definite act of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
“God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I need your mercy and forgiveness. I believe the truth about Jesus Christ: He died and shed his blood for my sins, he was buried, and rose again. By faith, I put my trust in Jesus Christ alone to forgive my sin. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
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We’re so happy you’ve decided to follow Jesus
We know that following Jesus is a journey. There are things that you can do to help you along this adventure, and we want to help!
If you are new or have any questions about Southland Baptist Church or faith, we’re here to connect with you.
