Remember our Bible Quotes up on our  @scripture_illuminations (which has kept us very busy fixing recently, as all the images were designed for the old square instagram requirements and we have taken the opportunity to divide them into colour-coded categories, let me know when you figure them all out) 🙂 So sorry for the gap in articles while we work on this, it has been very time consuming.

But as of November 2025 we are also adding a new section called “Scripture Illuminations Book-by-Book Bible Study & Devotionals” which will have a Bible Study and Prayer Devotional for each chapter of the Bible! We are starting with Matthew.

For those unfamiliar with Christianity, here is what the Bible says a person must do to be saved (go to heaven when they die):

The Bible is the Word of God for Christians, and it teaches that heaven is a promise of eternal life with God after this life. According to the Bible, reaching heaven isn’t about earning it through good deeds or accomplishments. Instead, it is offered as a free gift from God that can be received by anyone who chooses to accept it. This gift is possible through a belief in Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is God’s Son. He lived on earth, died (for our sins), and then came back to life.

To receive this gift of eternal life, the Bible outlines a few key steps:

Faith in Jesus: The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB [New American Standard Version of the Bible]).

This means believing that Jesus is who he said he is and trusting him rather than your own efforts to earn heaven.

Repentance: This is a Bible term that means to change your mind and direction in life away from wrongdoing and towards God. According to Acts 3:19 (NASB), “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

It’s about turning away from actions and attitudes that separate you from God.

Confession: Publicly acknowledging your belief in Jesus is another step. Romans 10:9 (NASB) states, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

This confession is an outward declaration of your inward faith.

Why did we say “died for our sins” in the first paragraph?

Because the Bible says that as far as God is concerned, “the wages of sin is death” and Jesus’ death on the cross 2000 years ago was done on our behalf to pay that sin penalty. If we ask God to apply that death to OUR sins, he will forgive our sins.

1 John 1:8,9 (NASB) “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Following these steps puts you on the path toward a relationship with God and an eternal life in heaven. This relationship begins now and continues forever.

The most famous verse in the Bible that most Christians will quote when asked about this subject is John 3: 16 (NASB), because it summarises the whole message of the gospel succinctly:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

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