Inheriting Heaven or Hell

Grace to You.org ^ | 1993 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

"[God] caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet. 1:3).

Everyone receives an eternal inheritance—either Heaven or Hell.

We have seen several aspects of the believer's inheritance, and will see more in future days. But realize that unbelievers also will receive an inheritance, for Jesus will say to them, "Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. . . . And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt. 25:41, 46).

Only Christians have eternal life and a royal inheritance. When you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you became a new creation in Christ and your life began to center on Him rather than yourself. The Holy Spirit indwelt you and began to transform your attitudes and actions. That's the new birth! It's like starting all over again, only this time you're pursuing God's glory rather than worldly pleasures or goals.

Also, when you were saved you became an heir of God and a fellow heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). So the new birth was the means of your salvation and your eternal inheritance.

Having said that, I must admonish you, just as Paul admonished the Corinthians, to "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor. 13:5). You never want to be deluded about your relationship with Christ. When you trust in the living Lord, you have a living hope and a glorious eternal inheritance. Anything less results in an inheritance of eternal damnation.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies" (John 11:25). Be sure your faith is firmly fixed on Him.

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray for family and friends who don't know Christ. Ask the Lord to redeem them so He will be glorified, and they will become joint heirs with Christ.

For Further Study

What do these verses teach about the new birth: John 1:12-13, John 3:3, and 1 Peter 1:23?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[StormPrepper]

Platitudes and false doctrine are an ugly combination.

Matt 7
21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Simply believing is not enough.

Jesus made is very clear no one is saved until He says you are. Matt 7 was Jesus' first warning about people that think they know Him, but by His standard, don't.

Every person will be judged by their works. Period.

Luke 6
46 ¶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 13
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24 ¶ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Many have been deceived into thinking they are already saved, and they will try to get into heaven, but they won't be able to. Then they will protest;
Luke 13:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

But Lord we know you, we believed in you...

Luke 13:
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

In other words, I never knew you...

Luke 13
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luke 6:46 tells why the majority of people who claim to believe in Christ will still get cast out. You didn't do what He told you to do.