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Will You Get Into Heaven?

To get into heaven I have to stand before Jesus

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 ESV 

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. REVELATION 20:12 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 6:23 ESV  

To get into heaven I have to be forgiven by Jesus

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. JOHN 8:3-8 ESV

The LORD gave me the two tablets on which God had written with his own finger all the words he had spoken to you from the heart of the fire when you were assembled at the mountain. DEUTERONOMY 9:10 NLT

But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” JOHN 8:9-11 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 6:23 ESV  

…for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20 ESV

To prepare for heaven I have to start living for Jesus

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 6:20-23 ESV  

Sin offers fantasy, but kills intimacy

Sin offers escape, but creates a prison

Sin offers control, but causes chaos

Sin offers identity, but creates insecurity

Jesus offers forgiveness that you can’t earn and you don’t deserve.

To prepare for heaven, I need to start forgiving like Jesus

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. COLOSSIANS 3:13 NLT

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. EPHESIANS 4:32 NLT

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. MATTHEW 6:14 NLT

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 6:23 ESV  

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can be free from distractions. Allow yourself to slow down, inviting God into this time. Are there any areas of your life where you have yet to receive God’s full forgiveness? Ask God to reveal the truth about this question; oftentimes we can tend to bury those parts of our past that feel shameful - invite God into those places, offering them up to him. Are there any areas where you haven’t forgiven yourself? If so, picture yourself as the woman caught in adultery. How does Jesus respond to her? How can you adopt Jesus’ response for yourself as well? If need be, pause and stay in this place for a while - surrender any burdens you’ve been carrying and give them fully to Jesus. When you are ready, ask him for a forgiving heart toward others - that you might be able to see them in the same way Jesus sees them. Ask God if there is anyone you need to forgive, and ask for the strength and humility to forgive them. End your time by thanking Jesus for his mercy and grace over your life. Invite him into the coming week, being attentive to his forgiveness and mercy in your life, so that you may receive his grace while also offering it to others.

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God, or others in your personal Bible reading time? How has this impacted you?
  2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 20:12. We are all going to be held accountable by God someday. As you think about this truth, what are your feelings? What do they reveal about what you believe is true?
  3. Read John 8:3-11. Jesus forgave a woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery. Do you struggle receiving God’s forgiveness for a sin you have committed? What would help you to forgive yourself?
  4. Read Romans 6:20-23. Reflect on how your life has been better living for Jesus. What are some specific blessings he has given you?
  5. Read Colossians 3:13. Think of a person you have difficulty forgiving. What are your barriers to offering your forgiveness to this person? What can you do to remove these hindrances?
  6. Read Matthew 6:14. Recall an experience in which you did not forgive someone who had offended you. What was that like? Picture what could have happened if you had forgiven this person at the time.