Mathew 7 Lesson

HEAVEN

All of us want to go to Heaven when we die. 

But how many of us know what we need to do to get there?

In today’s lesson, we will highlight five things that we need to do to be saved.

Before we do that, we will see what the Bible has to say relative to the number of people that are going to Hell compared to the number of people that are going to Heaven.

MANY MORE WILL PERISH THEN WILL BE SAVED

During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

• “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Mathew 7:13-14.

Luke records similar words spoken by Jesus in his Gospel:

• “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell seek to enter and will not be able.  Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, “I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Luke 13:24-28.

These scriptures serve as a warning for us to get right with God before it is too late! 

If we want to spend eternity in Heaven, there are things that we need to do!

WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?

The first thing that we need to do to be saved is read the Bible! 

Jesus said:

• “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15.

Of course, we cannot keep God’s commandments if we do not know what they are! 

Therefore, our efforts to go to heaven must begin with a solid understanding of the Bible.

Once we understand God’s word, the next thing that we need to do is act!

Being a Christian is an active life, not a passive one.

FIVE MATTERS OF SALVATION

Listed below are five things that the Bible teaches we must do to be saved and go to Heaven:

1. Believe in Jesus. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” – Acts 16:31, 
2. Confess our belief in Him. “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” – Romans 10:10, 
3. Repent (turn away from) of our sins. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3, 
4. Be baptized. “Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ .” – 1 Peter 3:21 and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16, 
5. Obey God’s commandments. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter.” – Mathew 7:21. 

GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO BE SAVED!

Remember that God loves us and is rooting for us to take the necessary steps toward salvation. 

That is why He sent Jesus to save us from our sins! 

Consider the following two scriptures:

1. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16,
2. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT HEAVEN

As you read the following three verses about Heaven, it is ok to get excited about the prospect of spending eternity in Heaven.

It is this excitement that gives us hope and allows us to persevere during times of adversity.    

1. “He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:4,
2. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” -  John 14:2,
3. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9.

CONCLUSION

Heaven is a place more beautiful than any of us can imagine! 

And unlike Earth, there are no tears, no pain, and no death in Heaven. 

In fact, the Bible teaches us that we cannot begin to comprehend the majesty of Heaven! 

It is far more beautiful than anything we have seen before, and something that we will need to see to believe! (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Being hopeful about Heaven allows us to persevere through adversity and motivates us to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to Heaven.

We will end today’s lesson with the following two scriptures about Heaven:

1. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” – Romans 8:18,
2. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” – John 14:1-3.