I don’t expect to die soon. Why do I need to think now about what’s after death?
God says: Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.1
If I do die, isn’t that it?
The rich man died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments.2
I have lived a comparatively good life. Why should I be condemned?
God says: There is none righteous, no, not one.3 Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4
God is merciful, so I trust that He will pass over my sins.
He will by no means clear the guilty.5 Because I have called, and ye refused; I also will laugh when your fear cometh.6
I say my prayers and have given to God’s work; won’t that count in my favor?
Many will say to Me in that day...we have done many wonderful works. I never knew you, depart from Me.7
Why put me on the same level as a drunkard or a criminal?
God says: By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; all have sinned.8 All we, like sheep, have gone astray.9
If that be the case, I must plead guilty. I have sinned. What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.10
What exactly am I to believe?
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.11
But must I do something?
A man is not justified by the works of the law; but by the faith of Jesus Christ.12
To be saved just by believing seems too simple.
If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when He saith to thee, Wash and be clean?13 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou SHALT be saved.14
Does God really love me?
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us.15 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us.16
I often think I am too great a sinner to be saved.
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.17
Bible References: 1Proverbs 27:1; 2Luke 16:22-23; 322And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:22‑23)Romans 3:10; 410As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)John 3:3; 53Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)Exodus 34:7; 67Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7)Proverbs 1:24,26; 724Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (Proverbs 1:24)
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (Proverbs 1:26)Matthew 7:22-23; 822Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22‑23)Romans 5:12; 912Wherefore, 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: (Romans 5:12)Isaiah 53:6; 106All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)Acts 16:31; 1131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)John 3:16; 1216For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)Galatians 2:16; 13216Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16) Kings 5:13; 14Acts 16:31; 1531And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)Romans 5:8; 1618But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) John 3:16; 17116For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Timothy 1:15.