Yes, you can know. Some might ask, “isn’t it prideful or haughty to believe you are going to Heaven?” I would suggest it is more arrogant to not take God at His Word. It is a sin not to believe God when He says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Notice the word “shall.” God says you shall be saved, not “might” be saved!



“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)  “…the righteousness of God which is by faith…” (Romans 3:22) “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith…” (Romans 3:25) “To declare…his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28) And there are dozens more verses I could use. Notice that even if you have been baptized it doesn’t matter. It is “he that believeth not” that is damned (Mark 16:16).

Someone recently suggested to me that grace kicks in after we have done all we can do. I asked the individual whether they or anyone they know has really done all they can do? They correctly responded, “no, of course not.” And that’s the point. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.” (Titus 3:5) Think about it, that man’s own words condemned him even though he claimed to believe in God’s grace!

As to the relationship between grace and works, God is clear: works (the Old Testament) and grace (the New Testament) cannot co-exist. “Then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6) “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)

God has always justified by faith alone (Romans 3:22; 4:10; Gal 3:8). Friend, you don’t have to become a Baptist to go to heaven, but you must believe. You can be a member in good standing of any one of the dozens of churches in this valley – but that doesn’t mean you are going to heaven, you must believe. And a clear evidence that you have believed God is seen by your ceasing from good works (Heb 6:1; 9:14). It isn’t that God doesn’t want a Christian to act like a Christian – of course He does. It is rather that God does not want a person to rest (not even partly) on his own good works for salvation. God wants you to believe His word and receive His salvation as a gift of grace based on His word and independent of your own sinful (prideful) good works (Isaiah 64:6).

“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.” (John 3:15-16)