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Heaven Is Just Four Steps Away Presented by Chris Reeves * Lakeland Hills church of Christ * Gospel Meeting * March 29, 2011 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!