Heaven Past Present Future Ministries

ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

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How does one receive assurance of eternal life?

The Blessing of Being Guaranteed Inheritance As A Citizen of the Coming Kingdom of Heaven

Paul tells his readers they are guaranteed this special inheritance in God’s kingdom. It would be sad to hope for something so special and lose it. God's Word promises you can't lose eternal life with the Father once accepted by faith in the payment of Jesus Christ for our sin.

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory. NIV

So how do we receive a guarantee of this inheritance? What deposit do we receive? What does God want us to do to become His children? Paul says we obtain this deposit guarantee in Christ through several orderly events of our lives.

First, the blessings of an inheritance come because we have “heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” It is important to hear and listen to the truth of the good news of God’s invitation.

Romans 10:14-17

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"  17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV (Emphasis mine)

Second, the blessings of an inheritance come because “having believed.” God asks us to believe His plan. From the beginning of man, God’s promise has been to those who “believe.” This belief is a distinct special moment where one comes to God recognizing his sin and accepts the payment of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 15:6

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. NIV

 

John 3:18

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. NIV

After hearing and believing Paul says, “you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” God guarantees our salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit. He seals us giving the Holy Spirit as earnest of His promise. At the moment of our belief, we are born of the Holy Spirit of God who comes to indwell us.

John 3:5

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. NIV

 

Romans 8:16

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. NIV

 

Ephesians 4:30

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NIV

  

John 10:27-30

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." NIV

It is little wonder Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” as he started sharing this great plan of God.

Invitation To Accept God’s Plan

Those who hear God’s plan of salvation, believe this promise, and accept the payment of Jesus for sin in prayer to God the Father are promised the right to become His children.

John 1:9-13

9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.  10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. NIV

 

Romans 10:9-13

9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  NIV 

Have you prayed to God the Father and accepted Jesus as Savior from sin? Pray today and He promises to you great spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms. Will you pray the sinner’s prayer today?

Dear God, I pray to you now. I know I am a sinner. I know Jesus died for me. I accept Jesus payment for my sin that I may have eternal life. Amen.

Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior for sin you become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven to come. As a citizen you are promised by God who cannot lie all the privileges of that citizenship. In the Kingdom of Heaven once you prayed to accept Jesus you were sealed by the Holy Spirit in a spiritual birth. The promised Holy Spirit baptized or immersed you as Christ in you. Possessing the seal of this promise you will assemble with all believers of all ages when Jesus completes the building of this assembly or church in heaven. When Jesus finishes His work He will present His Kingdom to the Father and confess you before the Father in heaven as a son of God. As a son you even now can call God your Father. This presentation by Jesus to the Father will be a wonderful time of celebration. You will enjoy remembering your salvation by taking the Lord's supper. There will be a wonderful wedding celebration  of all saints of the ages to Jesus. God gives a present of the New Jerusalem as the abiding place of the Lord's bride for eternity. Together with all ever saved past present and future we will sing, praise, dance, celebrate together in worship, and serve of our heavenly Father in His presence. These and more are the heavenly privileges of this new citizenship.

As a new citizen of heaven on earth as God's ambassadors we live as strangers and pilgrims. Our lives are to be pure and holy modeling the character and example of our new Father in heaven. God desires that our life after our salvation properly worship him "in spirit and in truth" which means our religious observance and rites accurately picture the privileges God promises us in heaven. Once you have accepted Christ the following link can help you determine how to worship in spirit and in truth. See chapter Worship in Spirit and in Truth for more details of a life that bears "good fruit" before you new Father in heaven. A good conscience in a life obedient to the Father means water baptism or immersion under water in picture of your spiritual baptism and the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just like your spiritual baptism made you a citizen of heaven with the privileges of that citizenship to assemble in the church of heaven at the end of the age your water baptism will make you eligible for the privileges of a local church on earth that is a copy or shadow of the assembly to come in heaven. In this assembly you can observe the Lord's Supper that pictures Jesus work in the gift of His body and blood just as you will with Jesus when He gives His kingdom to the Father. As well you can pray, sing, praise, serve others, give, pray and more just as you will in heaven in that day. May God through the Spirit now within you bless you with understanding of His will for your life as you now serve your new Father.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. NASB

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