By: Kyle Austin

In talking to people about Heaven and salvation, I often hear this asked, "Can you really know that you are going to heaven?" Or they'll make this statement, "You can't know for sure that you're going to heaven. I hope I am but how can you really know for sure?"

This leaves people very hopeless and this is not God's intent at all. I want you to know that you can know! How do I know that you can know? Because God tells us this in His Word. 1 John 5:13 says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life." So God's desire is that you and I know without a shadow of a doubt that we possess eternal life.

A great illustration of this was the thief on the cross. When Jesus was crucified, He was crucified between two thieves. One of them would reject him. The other would acknowledge that he was receiving the just punishment for his sin. So he cried out and essentially said, "I believe you are Jesus. I believe you're the Messiah. Save me!". And Jesus responded, "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." So this thief on the cross knew exactly where he was going when he died. He didn't have to hope so or think so. He knew! How is that?

He realized he was guilty. He recognized that Jesus was the Savior and he called out to him to save him and he accepted the free gift of salvation. And as a result, Jesus told him he would be with Him in Heaven on that day. Imagine with me the thief on the cross with his hands and feet nailed to that cross. He could not go to church. He could not be baptized. He could not go down to the local homeless shelter and serve. He could not go visit the elderly at the nursing home. He couldn't do anything! He couldn't earn salvation in any way possible!

Salvation was not up to him and it's not up to you either. Eternal life is a gift of God and the fact that it is a gift illustrates it beautifully! If I give you a gift, you take the gift. It's not a gift if I come and take it back. God refers to salvation as a free gift! Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast."

God tells us again in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Eternal life cannot be earned and it cannot be taken back. It's not about you doing enough of something to earn or keep it.

God gives us 100% assurance. How does he do that?

• Through His Word.
• Through the sacrifice of His Son. That he died on the cross once for the sins of the entire world.
• Through the Holy Spirit that every believer receives the moment of salvation. A believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit. It's God's down payment and nothing can undo that seal.

Nothing you or I could ever do could remove what God has done! So it may be that you have never accepted God's gift of eternal life and that's why you're unsure. You can do that now! You can accept God's free gift of salvation. You can pray something like this, "Jesus, I know that I have broken your law and am a sinner. I deserve to die and spend an eternity in the place called Hell. I believe that you died and rose again for me, and I am calling out to you now to save me from my sin. I ask you to forgive me for my sins and come into my life. Help me now to live for you. Amen."

If you have done that you have received God's free gift of salvation and have 100% assurance that you will be in Heaven when you die.

On the other hand, it may be that you have accepted God's gift, but you have not known the assurance that God gives with that. Read this verse one more time. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God; That ye may know that you have eternal life." God is telling us that we can know without a shadow of doubt that we possess eternal life! Rest in His promise to you.

If you called upon Jesus Christ to save you, please let us know about your decision by filling in this quick form which can be left anonymous. We want to pray for you and are happy to provide resources to help you grow in your relationship and faith if you would like.