In your personal opinion, what does it take for a person to go to heaven? 

I have a call into Lifeway Christian Resources to use the full FAITH outline, and am awaiting an answer. For now, this is up, pending a final decision. 

Is it having faith? And if so, in what?

Is it by working hard, being a good person, doing everything you can to get to heaven?

Is it by wearing the right clothes, studying the right books and living a clean life?

Are you not quite sure?

Have you never thought of it?

I would like like to share with you how the Bible answers this question, if it s all right. There is a word that can be used to answer this question: FAITH

F is for FORGIVENESS.

We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness.
“In Him [meaning Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of  sins” --Ephesians 1:7a, NKJV.

A is for AVAILABLE

Forgiveness is available. It is --
AVAILABLE FOR ALL
“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” --John 3:16, NKJV.
BUT NOT AUTOMATIC
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven” --Matthew 7:21a, NKJV.

I is for IMPOSSIBLE

It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.

GOD IS --- LOVE John 3:16, NKJV “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”
GOD IS JUST  “For judgment is without mercy” --James 2:13a, NKJV.
MAN IS SINFUL For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” --Romans 3:23, NKJV.

But how can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin?

T is for TURN

So ask yourself, if you were driving down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would
he or she be asking you to do? Would they be asking you to change direction?

To turn means repent. "So what do I need to turn from," you ask? We all need to TURN from something--sin and self
“But unless you repent you will all likewise perish” --Luke 13:3b, NKJV.
TURN to someone; trust Christ only. The Bible tells us that  “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that
He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” --1 Corinthians 15:3b-4, NKJV.
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” --Romans 10:9, NKJV.

H is for HEAVEN

Heaven is eternal life.
HERE
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” -- John 10:10b, NKJV.
HEREAFTER
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” --John 14:3, NKJV.
HOW
How can a person have God’s forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord?

FAITH (Forsaking All I Trust Him), Romans 10:9.

Understanding what we have shared, would you like to receive this forgiveness by trusting in Christ as your personal Savior and Lord?

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws, and understand now that my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry for all of my sins. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life, and toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive today, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer with all of your heart, you have just prayed to accept Christ. Congratulations and welcome to the kingdom! 

Or maybe you said this prayer a long time ago and you just feel uncommitted, and feel a need to recommitment your life to Christ. You can pray the same prayer.

While heaven is no longer a place that you need to wonder about, the Bible tells us that "Let us hold fast the confession  of our  hope without wavering, for He (Christ) who promised is faithful...not forsaking our own assembling together...but encouraging one another" Hebrews 10:23-25. You are encouraged, as a new believer, to begin attending a local church. We would like to invite to join Sunday School and begin attending church. You can find a church near you by going to http://www.sbc.net/ and clicking on "Find Church." Simply put in your zip code and it wll help you find a church near your home. 

*Permission is PENDING from Lifeway as of August 9, 2007

What does it mean to be able to share your FAITH with someone? 

Lisa's FAITH Sunday School Evangelism Testimony from 2000.

I encourage our 11 year old daughter to “always be able to give a REASON for the hope that lies within her,” and to be able to share her belief in Christ.  As I would encourage her to develop this strong testimony, there was always a hollow little doubt nagging in the back of my mind…. Sure, I can talk about Christ until the cows come home, I am upfront, bold and weave Christ throughout almost every conversation I have.  Professing all the wonderful things Christ has done in my life is like breathing, I do it without thinking in every aspect of my life.  So what was that nasty little doubt?  Could I fully explain to someone how to commit their lives to Christ?  Could I give a solid reason for my own faith, and lead someone in a prayer for their own salvation?  Could I do it without stumbling all over the place? 

Before FAITH the answer was “NO” – I knew what I WANTED to say – I understand our commission to share the gospel, but it never flowed, and I was scared to “seal the deal,” so I didn’t even try.  I just wanted to plant seeds and talk about Christ, and let “those who knew” how to effectively witness, do it for me!  Sound familiar? 

FAITH has given me a concise way to share Christ, now!  Instead of relying on my own words and thoughts, we learned a simple outline full of scripture.  The Holy Spirit is kind enough to bring people into the lives of believers who need to hear the gospel.  When I get that little nudge now, I am equipped and I can share FAITH, anywhere, anytime, with anyone.  I have shared FAITH with a gentlemen getting dialysis in a dark hospital room, at In ‘N Out Burger while getting lunch, and at a fruit stand.  A few weeks ago, emboldened by FAITH training, I visited a friend in the hospital, and then went to every waiting room in the hospital asking the families if I could pray with them for their loved ones.  I was also ready when the Mormon missionaries came knocking, to invite them in, listen to them, then pop “the question,” sharing FAITH in my living room, with my children nearby.  I would have NEVER boldly done any of these things without FAITH training.  Again – I had no problem talking about Christ, He is part of almost every conversation I have.   I was just too scared to try and win a soul, and pray the sinners prayer.  FAITH training helped change that.  Knowing that I am equipped to share the gospel has given me the courage to let the Holy Spirit work through me.

Do I recommend FAITH training?  Yes.  Why?  Because we should ALWAYS be able to give an answer for the hope that lies within us, and we are urged repeatedly to share the gospel.  Was it easy?  No, it was a challenge that we wholeheartedly committed to take, not missing a single session in 16 weeks.  Am I glad I did it?  Absolutely, it wiped away my fears, my insecurities, and my feigned ignorance in witnessing!  Did my children survive 16 weeks in FAITH childcare?  Yes, they even looked forward to it!  My youngest was dubbed “The Princess” in her 5 year old class, being one of  the only girls, and she had a blast every Tuesday night.  Was it a sacrifice personally?  Yes, but how can we compare that to dying on a cross?

Now that we have completed this step of FAITH, I know I will never have that little old doubt nagging me in the back of my mind.  When the Holy Spirit leads me to share, I am equipped to be a willing vessel in the Great Commission!   I will be forever grateful and thankful to everyone who helped put FAITH together, from the dedicated trainers, teachers and staff at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, to Daytona Beach and everyone in between.  We are all called, as believers, to learn how to effectively share the gospel.  I would highly recommend that everyone take advantage of the FAITH training and pray about the next step of FAITH!

God bless you and again, I thank you for helping me to learn FAITH.

(From this essay, our family was picked to be in a FAITH testimonial video – distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention all over the USA.  It was a wonderful, humbling week with our dear camera crew following us virtually everywhere we went.  What a learning experience!)