Ask the Pastor 87

Can we know for sure that we are going to heaven?

Not long ago I was talking with a man who told me that he had been a member of a certain church for over 50 years. So, I asked him if after 50 years did he know for sure that he would go to heaven when he died? He answered and said that no that was not possible, but he was doing the best that he could. Of course, the problem with that, is can a person ever know if what they have done is good enough or if they have ever done enough? Inasmuch as the Bible came from God, would it not make sense that a part of that message would be how we can know for sure that we can be where He is? In First John 5:13 we read, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,”. In that great familiar verse of the Bible, John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” In the Greek text the verb for have is a contingent verb which means that having everlasting life is contingent upon believing on the Son of God. In John 5:24 we read, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.” So, if a person hears the Word, believes the Word, that person has everlasting life because the Bible says so and the Bible is the Word of God. The answer to the question is yes, we can know and is it not better to know for sure than not?

Have questions about the Bible? Send them to Dr. Greg Koehn at gak4850@gmail.com and read the answer here in this article.