Sometimes it helps to understand something when you consider what it is not. For instance, it is reported that Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb, along with many other devices, said that he never had a failure; he just knew a hundred different ways it doesn’t work. By considering the things that he did to achieve the results that didn’t work, he was able to zero in on what actually did produce light. 

History is filled with people who have led entire nations into believing that their way was the right way, but what happened was defeat. When I was a young man in my early teens I was told that the way to heaven was through works that I performed, however, there was never any standard to measure if I had done enough so-called “good works” to make it in. Right from the start that system didn’t seem to fit what I knew about the love of God.

Since there can only be one truth about anything, knowing what that truth is will help us to see exactly how to get to heaven with our sin forgiven. So, let’s hold up some of the different ways that people have believed to be the pathway to heaven to the one truth that never changes, God's Word, the Bible.

#1.     I can be good enough to earn my way into heaven.

     If there was something that we could do during our lifetime to gain God’s favor why did Jesus need to come to the earth? Wouldn’t that be the cruelest thing ever heard of for God to send His only Son Jesus into a world of humans that would mock Him, spit upon Him, torture Him beyond anything ever experienced by man, nail Him to a wooden cross to die a very slow and agonizing death, all without Him ever committing even one sin? Those who believe they can earn their way to heaven have little to no concept of the depth of suffering that Jesus took upon Himself that God required to pay for your sin. 

Let’s say that I have a tomato garden, and in it I grow the very best tomatoes in the entire county. In fact, my tomatoes have won prizes at the county fair for several years in a row because they are that good. One day, I receive my electric bill in the mail. I immediately go out to my garden and gather a bushel basket full of those award-winning tomatoes and take them to the electric company along with my bill. I place the bill on the counter along with my basket of tomatoes and expect the very friendly clerk to mark my bill paid-in-full. Does that happen? No! Why not? Is there something wrong with the tomatoes? They are absolutely the best, you know!

Even though my tomatoes are the best ever grown, my electric bill is not marked paid. Furthermore, if I simply walk away expecting the nice clerk to come to her senses and mark my bill paid, it won’t be long before I am sitting in the dark without electricity. The problem was not with the quality, or even the quantity of the tomatoes, the problem was that they were the wrong currency! The electric company wants money, not tomatoes. 

God has determined before the world was created that the “currency” that was sufficient to pay for man’s sin was the shedding of sinless blood. 

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

When you believe that you can be “good enough” to earn heaven on your own, you must realize that the standard set by God is the standard of Jesus Christ.

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

#2.   There are many different ways that lead to heaven and I can choose any of them that I wish.

     I live in a small town in the Midwest United States. If you live on the east coast and want to visit my house there are many different ways you could go. In fact, you could go east across the Atlantic ocean, through Europe, across Russia, through China, across the Pacific ocean to the west coast, travel on one of the interstate highways that will take you to my town, and find my street. After all of that you still have not arrived at my house until you do one thing. You must enter my driveway that leads to my house. Regardless of how you get there, ALL must enter my one driveway because it is the only pathway that leads to my house. If you travel all of that way and enter into my neighbors driveway, we will never meet. 

While it is true that many roads (circumstances, situations, etc.) lead you to faith, it is only by travelling the ONE road that leads to Jesus Christ. 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

#3. I can have my sins washed away with baptism.

     If I have a problem with my car, and the “check engine” light comes on, how much sense would it make for me to pull into the local car wash and expect the light to go out and the problem to be solved? The problem is not on the outside but on the inside of me because of my sin. I cannot expect to do something on my own, including baptism, to take care of the sin issue that is on the inside in my entire being. Notice the order that this verse sets down, which is the same order throughout the teachings of the Bible:

Acts 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

   First, they “gladly received His Word” – they believed the Word of God and trusted it for salvation.

   Second, they were “baptized” – after salvation as a first step of obedience.

   Third, “there were added unto them” – they joined with other believers in the church to serve as God’s Holy Spirit led them by God's Word. 

You cannot do number two until you have done number one. You cannot put the roof on a house until you have built the foundation and walls to support it. 

We could go on and on with various “methods” that sinful man has devised to obtain favor with God hoping to achieve eternal life in heaven. Unless you realize that the thing you are putting your trust in is the “wrong currency,” you will find yourself sitting for all eternity in the dark. 

It is God’s intention that all who have ever lived upon this earth come to a saving knowledge of Him through Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

God plainly gives us the only way to salvation and does not desire to hide it from anyone.

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

The word “if” is an action word and requires a response from you.

The word “confess” means to agree with.

The phrase “with thy mouth” reveals what is in your heart.

It is the “Lord Jesus” that you are agreeing with in your heart, genuinely, with your entire being, that He alone is the Saviour who has paid for your sin entirely.

“And shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead” is the proof that Jesus not only paid for all of your sin, but that God the Father has accepted that payment on your behalf and marked your sin debt paid-in-full.

“Thou shalt be saved” immediately! Not someday; not this plus any of your works; Now!

Will you put your complete trust in the gift of salvation that Jesus Christ has secured for you and is offering to you right now?

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

That is the only way TO get to heaven!