With the world being full of all kinds of religions and ideologies, sometimes it appears as if religion is just some type of Russian roulette. The Bible is the our manual on getting to heaven. The Bible has stood the test of time again and again. There’s no book as rich with content as the Bible.  With around 100 million copies sold every year, the Bible continues to be the number one worldwide best-seller hands down.  The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ being the only Savior for mankind. Jesus is the only Savior of man now and forever. Amen, amen, and Amen!  [ For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. —James 4:14; ESV]  See the steps below if be saved and go to heaven.

1. The main reason you need to be saved is because of sin.  [ . . . but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:2; ESV] The Bible states on a number of occasions that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23; I Kings 8:46).  Whether it’s a white lie or first-degree murder, sin is sin.  The first step is to acknowledge that you have sinned and are in need of a Savior.  More on this later.

2. You must believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior. The Bible makes this clear. [Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. — John 14:6] You must believe that Jesus is the Messiah.  [I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. — John 8:24] Jesus is the son of God (John 20:31). Also, see Romans 10:9-10, Acts 4:12 & John 14:6. Actually, Jesus as God in the flesh is the second person in the trinity.

3. You must believe that Jesus died for us and that he rose again from the dead. [For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. — I Thessalonians 4:14; ASV] [Also, see Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 15:3-4.] The blood of Christ is what washes away our sins (Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:19). After Christ’s death, he rose again (I Corinthians 15:3-4). However, many doubt Christ’s resurrection.  It has been said the best proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the existence of the church in the modern era.  This would basically be due to the church of Jesus Christ withstanding the test of time (almost 2000 years). It can be added that the existence of the church in the first century is just as powerful an argument. People in the first century needed proof of the resurrection of Jesus just they do today, and it’s clear that over 500 people in the first century saw the resurrected Christ (I Corinthians 15:6).  The disciples initially did not believe (Luke 24:11), but after ample proof, they did believe (Luke 24:34).

4. Being good and doing good deeds cannot get you to heaven. As good as going to church and reading your Bible are, these good deeds will not get you to heaven.  Further, it’s easy to look in the mirror and think of yourself as good. The Bible says that our righteous deeds are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). This is not to say that God does not want us to do good, but rather the passage in question is referring to our deeds of righteousness not being able to get us to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we are saved, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to us, which merits us the grace and salvation to go to heaven.

5. You must repent of your sins in order to go to heaven (Luke 13:3). Acknowledging that you have sinned is not good enough.  Confession has to be coupled with genuine repentance. Now is the time to repent and be saved.  Continually resisting the Holy Spirit is very, very dangerous. Those who will take the mark of beast will not repent because they will not be able to repent (Revelation 14:9-10; Revelation 16:9-11).

You may have heard of the sinner’s prayer.  The sinner’s prayer is comprised of core Christian teaching as it pertains to men confessing and repenting of sin and believing in Jesus to the point of salvation. Praying the sinner’s prayer without meaning it won’t get you saved. Read and understand what you are doing as you pray through the sinner’s prayer. “Dear God in heaven: I am a desperate sinner in need of your grace. I acknowledge that I have sinned before you, and I repent of this sin. I believe that Jesus is the son of God, and I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins.  I believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day. I believe that Jesus as God became man. Thank you Jesus for shedding your blood for me. I am opening my heart for Jesus to be my Savior.  I am not trusting in any of my good deeds to get me to heaven.  By simple faith, I here and now trust in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. In Jesus name, amen.”

The next step is to get into a solid, gospel-preaching church. The LSD, the Mormons, and Roman Catholic congregations are not gospel-preaching congregations.