How can I be sure that I will go to heaven?

John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

If we believe Jesus died to take the punishment for our sins, recognize that only he can forgive us, and commit ourselves by faith to him, the Bible promises that we will go to heaven. We cannot earn our way to heaven my being good. Eternal life is God’s gift to those who give their allegiance to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:17, 20If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. . . . . But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

Hebrews 2:14-15Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Sin is rooted in selfishness, pride, and hatred, and it deserves eternal judgment. Also, we know that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). Thus, hell is the default destination for everyone who dies without Christ. But God offers hope to everyone. God sent his Son, Jesus, to die—to take the punishment for sin that we deserve. If he had only died, that wouldn’t be enough. But he rose from the dead, proving that he alone has power over death. The only one who has ever defied death promises this same everlasting life to all who follow him.

Acts 2:38-39Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away-all who have been called by the Lord our God."

1 Corinthians 15:42It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.

Faith in Jesus is meaningless if this life is all there is. Jesus’ resurrection was the essential aspect of God’s plan to allow us to spend eternity with him. Because Jesus was raised from the dead with a new body, we can be assured that he has the power over death and that we, too, will be resurrected with a new body and live forever with him.

Romans 8:35-39I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s love is stronger than any person, supernatural foe, or circumstance that may threaten us. No matter what comes our way, nothing can separate us from God’s love when we trust in Jesus Christ.