Heaven Is Just Four Steps Away

From Any Place on Earth

How Far Away Is Heaven?

• Not matter where you live on earth, you are just four steps away from heaven

• Heaven is not far from any of one us (Deut. 30:11-14; Rom. 10:6-8)

• Some are not far from the kingdom of heaven (Mk. 12:34)

• Heaven is just four steps away!

Step 1: Admit• We all must admit that we have sinned (Rom.

3:23; 5:12; 1 Jn. 1:7-10)

• We must all admit what sin is – a violation of God’s law (1 Jn. 3:4; 5:17)

• We must all admit what we are in sin: separated (Isa. 59:1-2), lost (Lk. 19:10), in bondage (Jn. 8:34), dead (Eph. 2:1), in darkness (Col. 1:13)

• We must all admit that we need a savior - Jesus (Lk. 2:11; Jn. 4:42; Ac. 13:23; Eph. 5:23; Phil. 3:20)

Step 1: Admit

• The following admitted that they were wrong, saying “I have sinned”:

– Achan (Josh. 7:20)

– David (2 Sam. 12:13)

– Judas (Mt. 27:4)

– Prodigal son (Lk. 15:21)

• Will you admit the same?

Step 2: Submit

• We must all submit to the precepts and commands of the Savior (Mt. 28:20; Jn. 14:15; Rom. 6:17; 2 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 5:8; Jas. 1:21,22,25)

• We must submit to what Jesus says, not to what we feel or what others say (Jer. 10:23; Mt. 7:21-22; 15:9; 17:5)

Step 2: Submit

Submitting means that we obey what Jesus says…

• In the way he says it (Lev. 10:1-2; 2 Sam. 6:6-7)

• For the purpose he says it (Mt. 6:1-18)

• No matter what the cost (Lk. 9:23-26,57-62; 14:25-33)

• Not matter how foolish it sounds (Josh. 6; 2 K. 5; 1 Cor. 1:18,21,25,27)

Step 3: Commit

• We all must commit our life completely to God (Psa. 37:5; Prov. 3:5; 16:3; Acts 14:23)

• We must all commit our troubles to God (Psa. 55:22; 1 Pet. 2:21,23; 4:19; 5:7)

• We commit by letting go and relinquishing control to a higher power – God (illus. in Acts 27:40, KJV)

• We commit so that we don’t go backward on our first two steps

Step 4: Transmit

• We must all transmit the image of Christ into our life (Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 11:1; Gal. 2:20; 4:19; Col. 1:27; 3:10)

• We transmit by being transformed (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; metamorphosis)

• We transmit by being translated (2 Cor. 3:2; Psa. 37:31; Col. 1:13)

Just Four Steps Away

• We are a step away from death (1 Sam. 20:3)

• We are nearer to salvation than when we first believed (Rom. 13:11)

The First Steps Are Hard

• A child’s first steps are usually difficult … there will be hardships and hindrances at first; then, the rewards will follow

• Admit, submit, commit, and transmit: taking these four steps may be challenging, but you can and must take them today!

• Only a step!