Faith is one of those things that people either embrace or wrestle with, but sooner or later, everyone has to confront the big questions of life. What happens when we die? Is there an afterlife? And if so, what determines where we go?
These are not small questions, and they deserve real answers. That’s why today, I want to lay out the Gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ. This isn’t about plastic religion, traditions, or rituals. This is about truth, eternity, and what God has done for us.
Is There an Afterlife? The Bible’s Answer
Whether you’ve ever thought about it or not, the Bible makes it clear: There is an afterlife. But more than that, there is also a judgment after death. Let’s look at what Jesus Himself says:
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29)
That’s a sobering reality. Not only does life continue after death, but every person will be judged by God. Revelation 20:11-15 describes this judgment in terrifying clarity. The question is—what is required to enter Heaven?
The Standard of Heaven – Perfection
Psalm 24:3-5 gives us the answer:
“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”
This is where things get real. To stand before God, you must be pure. No sin. No imperfection. Absolute holiness. And if we’re honest with ourselves, that’s a standard none of us meet.
Are You a Good Person?
Most people, when asked, will say they’re good. But the Bible disagrees:
“No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18)
That might sound harsh, but let’s examine ourselves by just a few of God’s commandments:
- Lying – Have you ever told a lie? Can you count how many lies you’ve told? A person who’s told more lies than they can count is known as a ‘liar’. That makes you and me liars.
- Stealing – Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours? It could be an item, or time at your job you used for personal projects, or illegal downloads of intellectual property. I’m certainly guilty of that. That makes us thieves.
- Hatred – Jesus said if you hate someone in your heart, you’ve already committed murder (Matthew 5:21-22). I’m guilty of hate. Odds are, you are too.
- Lust – Jesus also said if you even look at someone with lust, you’ve committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28). I’m certainly guilty of that. I haven’t met one person that isn’t.
And that’s only four of God’s moral laws. According to just those four, we are lying, thieving, murdering adulterers. If we’re honest, we stand guilty. And what is the punishment for sin?
The Consequence of Sin – Judgment and Hell
Romans 6:23 says:
“The wages of sin is death.”
Sin isn’t just a mistake—it’s a violation of God’s law. And like any good judge, God must punish lawbreakers. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t be just. And the punishment for sin isn’t just physical death—it’s eternal separation from God in Hell.
But this is where the good news comes in.
The Good News – Jesus Christ Paid the Price
God knew we could never save ourselves. So, He did something incredible: He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment we deserve.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
Jesus lived a sinless life—He never lied, stole, hated, or lusted. And yet, He willingly went to the cross, taking the punishment we deserved. He died, was buried, and three days later, He rose again, defeating sin and death.
What Must You Do? Repent and Believe
Think of it this way: You’re on a plane that’s going down. I have a parachute. If you don’t take it, you’ll perish. But if you put it on, it will save you.
That’s what Jesus is—our parachute. But to be saved, you must put your trust in Him to save you, the same way you’d trust a parachute to save you from lethal fall damage.
- Repent – Turn away from your sin. Not just saying sorry, but hating your sin and desiring to live for God.
- Believe and trust in Jesus – Trust in His death and resurrection as the only way to be saved. Not your good works, not your religious exercises—only Jesus.
Jesus said in John 14:1-3:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.”
The Promise – Adoption into God’s Family
The Bible is clear: If you repent and trust in Christ, you become a child of God.
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
That means that instead of judgment, you receive grace. Instead of Hell, you receive Heaven. Instead of wrath, you receive love.
What Now?
If this message has convicted you, don’t ignore it. Take it to God. Pray. Confess your sins. Ask for forgiveness and put your trust in Jesus. I’m not going to lead you in a “repeat-after-me” prayer—this needs to come from you.
And if you do put your faith in Christ, here’s what I recommend:
- Read the Gospel of John – It’s the fourth book in the New Testament and tells the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
- Find a Bible-preaching church – You need community, encouragement, and sound teaching.
- Live for Christ – This doesn’t mean you’ll never struggle or sin again, but it means you’ll now desire to walk in obedience to God’s Word.
This is It
This is the Gospel: You and I have sinned against a holy God. We deserve judgement. But Jesus took our place and suffered that judgement on our behalf. Through His death and resurrection, we can be forgiven and have eternal life.
“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)
If you have questions or want to talk more, reach out. We at AEGIS Game Studios would love to walk this journey with you.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
