Heaven, How Amazing Is It? Part 1 of "Heaven and Hell"Paraugs

How do I know if I am allowed to go to heaven?

But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

How do I know whether heaven or the new earth is my destination? Those who trust in Jesus as their Saviour may be sure. In John 1:12 we read, "But all those who have accepted Him [Jesus], to them He has given power to become children of God, those who believe in His Name". And who does not know the well-known verse John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life".

Believing in Jesus means having faith that He has taken your sins upon Himself and that you have received His righteousness, His goodness. Luther calls this the joyful exchange. Jesus is the One who reconciles the believer to God. Christians, when all is said and done, do not do their good deeds to earn heaven, but know that they have been accepted unconditionally by virtue of Christ's sacrifice (Ephesians 2:8-10). The criminal on the cross had no more time to improve his life (Luke 23:43)! Yet Jesus told him that he would be with Jesus in paradise that very day. Such grace, such love!

Is this joyful exchange - Jesus' righteousness in exchange for your sins - a reality for you?