Are you Prepared for Heaven? You might feel the answer is "yes" because you try to do good, but the reality is that we have all broken God's commandments through actions like lying or looking at others with lust. Because God is just, the penalty for sin is eternal death, yet God lovingly provided a way for you to be saved by coming as Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Jesus took the punishment for your sins upon Himself so that you could be forgiven, offering Heaven to you as a free gift. However, a gift must be opened to be enjoyed; to receive this, you must place your faith in Jesus and turn away from your sins. If you sincerely desire to repent and ask Jesus to be your Saviour, you can say this simple prayer: "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour from now on. Amen.". To grow in your faith, read the New Testament to learn more about Jesus and find a church that worships Him and teaches the Bible faithfully.
A Confession of Faith
by Pastor Harry Irrgang
The Triune God
I believe in one God, who always was, is and will be, Creator of all there is; one God in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God the Father
I believe in God the Father as God in His hidden, unknown form.
God the Son
I believe in God the Son as the creative Word of God, through whom everything was and is created; who took the form of a man, Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect man, to save sinners from their sins and consequent eternal death, since no one else can save them, and they cannot save themselves; who procured their salvation by His sacrificial death on the cross for their sins, taking those sins upon Himself, forgiving them, and paying the due penalty for them as required by God, that sinners might be reconciled to God; who rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, where He makes intercession for us; who will return to Earth at God’s designated time in power and in glory, taking every living believer with Him into Heaven; and who will judge the living and the dead.
God the Holy Spirit
I believe in God the Holy Spirit as God who comes to dwell within repentant sinners by grace through the gift of faith, by giving “new birth” (regeneration) to those sinners, manifested by faith in Jesus Christ as the sole Lord and Saviour of mankind, a realization that the Bible is the inspired written word of God, the impartation of power over sin, and the evocation of a constant desire to commune with, praise and worship the true God and Saviour; and who leads those in whom He dwells safely to Heaven, preparing and perfecting them on Earth for their eternal heavenly home.
The Church
I believe in the worldwide spiritual church of “born-again” (regenerate) sinners as the true Body of Christ, and in the visible church as a local gathering of regenerate and unregenerate sinners; where prayer, praise and worship are offered to God; where “born-again” sinners are baptized [preferably by immersion, though WIC also permits sprinkling or pouring]; where communion is offered to those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour; where people are taught the teachings of the Bible; and where fellowship, love and social concern are extended to everyone.
The Christian Way
(a simple catechism)
1. Who is God?
God always has been and always will be. The Bible says it is foolish not to believe in God.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 – all quotes: English Standard Version)
God is not three gods, but one God in three Persons:
- God is the Father. “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)
- God is the Son (Jesus Christ), who came to Earth to save us from sin. [Jesus said:] “Before Abraham was born, I AM.” (John 8:58) [Jesus said:] “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
(Note: The word ‘Son’ referring to Jesus is used as a title in the Bible, not literally. It signifies Jesus’ subordinate role to the Father while on Earth.) - God is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in believers. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Above all, God is HOLY; and we must worship and pray to Him alone (not to Mary or the saints, which is idolatry).
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)
[Jesus said:] “You shall worship the Lord Your God, and Him only shall you serve.” (Luke 4:8)
2. What is the Bible?
The Holy Bible contains the teachings of the Christian faith. It is actually a collection of 66 books written by 40 men over a period of 16 centuries, and is the world’s oldest existing religious book. Christians believe it contains the inspired word of God to man, and time and again it proves its God-given power, so much so that many countries and religious leaders forbid it to be read, because they are afraid of its power to change people.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
3. What is man’s nature?
It is man’s nature to sin continually as a result of turning away from God and therefore being alienated from Him. We all deserve to be condemned by God, because He is holy and hates all sin.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“For the wages of sin is [eternal] death.” (Romans 6:23)
4. What is sin?
[Jesus said:] “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-22)
5. Has God just left mankind to its fate?
No. God wants us to repent of our sins.
“The Lord is […] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God came to Earth as the man Jesus Christ to save repentant people from sin. On the cross, Jesus took their sins upon Himself and died in their place, so God would no longer hold their sins against them. Then He rose from the dead.
“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised”. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
“[Jesus Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem [save] us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)
6. How, then, can we be saved?
If we truly repent of our sins and believe that Jesus Christ is God the Saviour, trusting in Him as our Lord, we will be saved.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
7. But don’t we have to do anything to be saved?
No. There is nothing we can do to be saved, because God has already done everything for man in Jesus’ death on the cross. All we can do is, by God’s grace, repent of our sins and believe in what Jesus has done, and put our trust in Him alone as our Lord and Saviour.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
It is not ‘doing good’ or ‘being good’ that saves us, but simply faith in Jesus’ grace and mercy.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
8. What happens when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour?
When we trust in Jesus, we become a child of God – not because of our good deeds, but because of God’s grace. Our sins are forgiven, and we are saved from eternal death. Jesus calls this “being born again”, because we now become Christ-centred instead of self-centred.
“To all who did receive Him [Jesus], who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
“[God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption [salvation], the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
God’s Holy Spirit within us, given when we are “born again”, not only gives us peace and joy, but also enables us to regard our sinful nature as dead and to become Christ-like.
“To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
“Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)
God will then enable us to carry out His perfect plan for us, whatever it may be.
“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
If you want to know more about Jesus and the Christian Way, read the Bible’s New Testament. Find a church to attend that loves Jesus and loves people, worships God with enthusiasm, worships Jesus as God, and teaches you faithfully what the Bible says.