HOW DO I GET TO HEAVEN?

I. Multiple opinions

II. Only one option

Acts 17:1-12 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and

a few prominent women. 5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior, dear Christian friends,

Is the best basketball player of all time Michael Jordan or LeBron James? Are the Beatles the most popular band ever? Does the state of Michigan with its four seasons win out over the tropical island of Antigua as the best place to live?

Who has the right answers to those questions? Truth is, there are no right answers to those questions. They are all a matter of opinion.

We all have our opinions, don’t we? You might think this Coronavirus is nothing worse than the common flu, while someone else sees it as the worst health crisis in one hundred years. You might say President Trump is doing everything right and Governor Whitmer is doing everything wrong, while someone else sees it the other way around. You might conclude that when we re-open our beautiful sanctuary for worship that you still will not return because of possible infection, whereas someone else will be the first one through the doors.

In most situations, there can rightly be multiple opinions because there are many options to finding a solution or a plan to follow. Is that true when it comes to the question of how do I get to heaven? If not, why not? We will answer those questions as we listen to what God tells us today.

So, HOW DO I GET TO HEAVEN? While there are I..Multiple opinions, there is II. Only one option.

Today, just think of the opinions that exist when it comes to that question. Jews believe that they will get to heaven by their status as “seed of Abraham” and their life of good works. Mormons teach that Jesus was a human being who did so many good things that he became a god and that “as Jesus was, so we are; as Jesus is, so we can become.” Buddhists call their heaven Nirvana and follow Four Truths and an Eightfold Path to get there. Muslims live according to the Five