by Linda G. Hull

Created on: May 10, 2008

It is so important for everyone to know for sure where they will spend eternity. The Bible says that we can know for sure. If you will believe the Bible, you can have assurance that there is life after death and know where you will spend it.

From the Bible we know that wherever Jesus is, there we will be. There were two criminals who were crucified next to Jesus. Jesus told one that he would be in paradise with Him that day. Luke 23:43b (KJV)

We also have these words from the Apostle Paul who wrote in 2 Corinthians 5: 6 and 8, that when we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord. When we die, we will be present with Him.

What about the other criminal? Why wasn't he told that he would be in paradise? The other criminal was not repentant for his sin and mocked Jesus. Paul goes on to write in verse 10 that all will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive our reward or our punishment. Is this judgment God's fault? No; for Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9, that Jesus doesn't want anyone to perish but wants all to come to repentance.

Why does He care so much? The simple answer is that God loves us. The Apostle John wrote, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

We can conclude that all are welcome into God's Kingdom. Yet John wrote that the people of the world need to be saved in order to be a part of the Kingdom. Saved from what? The Bible tells us that all of mankind is condemned to death because of sin or disobedience to God's Law. No one can obey the Law perfectly; therefore we are condemned by the Law to perish. If we are condemned, then we do not have eternal life in Heaven. God doesn't just single out a particular group of people to punish, for He shows no favoritism according to Romans 2:11.

Sin began with Adam and Eve in the Garden. They disobeyed God's Law. That sin nature has been inherited by all of mankind. The consequence was condemnation and death.

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." Romans 5:12-13

So the question is how do we avoid being condemned? The answer is found in Jesus. Christians recognize that Jesus is God's Son and

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