18 Bible Verses About Heaven and Eternal Life
While perusing the local library with a friend, she suddenly grabbed my arm and tearfully asked, “Am I going to heaven? I’m so scared that I won’t make it in.” She’d recently lost a loved one and had been thinking about heaven. In response to her question, we found a Bible on the shelf, moved to a table, and studied God’s Word for Bible verses about heaven and eternal life.
By the time we left the library that day, she had confidence that she would spend eternity with God in heaven.
You might have these same questions. Or maybe you lost a loved one and have been wondering what happens when we die.
Today, we’ll explore a list of Bible verses about heaven and eternal life as we see what God says about the afterlife.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you grow closer to God.
Bible Verses About Heaven and Eternal Life
Here are God’s words about heaven.
18 Bible Verses About Heaven and Eternal Life
1. John 14:6, ESV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus drew a hard line. He declared that there were not many paths to God or many ways to go to heaven.
Jesus is the only way to heaven. This is tough to swallow in an inclusive society. Here is what we must remember: Jesus left the perfect throne room of heaven to live in a broken human body.
He suffered and died to pay the penalty for our sins. If we turn away from this immense sacrifice, we are essentially saying, “Thanks, but no thanks, Jesus.”
Let’s take a closer look at why Jesus suffered and died on the cross.
2. Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
When God originally created humankind, his relationship with them was perfect. Adam and Eve lived in a glorious garden, and they talked to God face-to-face. Everything was unbroken.
Sadly, when they chose to disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, sin entered the world. From that point forward, all humans have been born sinful by nature. We are self-serving and self-centered. We do not have face-to-face relationships with God.
All people have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfection.
The first step toward receiving the assurance of heaven one day is realizing that we have sinned. We have to humble ourselves and recognize that we are not “good enough” to go to heaven. Even one sin disqualifies us.
This is the great tragedy of sin.
3. Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God is good. Because he is a good judge, he is also just. He cannot let sin go overlooked.
Before Jesus came, God’s followers sacrificed animals to make payment for their sins. It was bloody, but the blood was an indication of just how serious sin is. Sin is so serious that there must be payment, and if there is no payment, an eternity in hell awaits.
The end of this verse offers the solution. We no longer have to sacrifice animals to pay the price for sin. If we turn to Jesus, receive him as the Savior and Leader of our lives, and follow him, God forgives us. We are assured eternity in heaven.
4. John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
This verse offers a key word: “receive.”
The Bible states that even the demons believe Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of all who follow him.
Receiving Jesus goes beyond believing in him. When we receive Jesus, he is no longer a distant deity we cry out to in crisis moments. He comes to dwell within us. He promises to be with us always, never leaving us.
We commit to lives spent doing our best to follow him (and we will all do this imperfectly). As we walk with him, our relationship continues to grow deeper and stronger.
This is a good test to determine whether you will go to heaven: Have you received Jesus as the Savior who took God’s punishment for your sins? Are you growing in your relationship with him?
5. John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
When I became a mother, this verse meant something very different to me.
I realized I would never allow my precious child to suffer, let alone die, for another person. To do so would be the ultimate demonstration of love.
This is what God did through Jesus. He demonstrated his love for us, for you, once and for all, when he sent his Son to bear the punishment you deserve for sinning.
We struggle to wrap our minds around this because God was also the one who poured out the punishment.
Remember, God’s ways are not our ways. They are higher than ours.
When God punished Jesus, his heart was broken. It was not a vengeful or enjoyable moment for him. He was doing what he had to do for the sake of his great love for us.
6. Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
In his letter to the Roman church, Paul wrote that confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing he was resurrected are keys to eternal life with God.
7. Romans 10:10
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
We believe in Jesus with our hearts and find justification here. By confessing that we are his followers, we declare to the world that we are his.
8. 1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
John’s letters offer great insights into our eternal security through Christ.
9. John 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The first time I realized what this verse means, I was deeply impacted in a way that has changed me.
Eternal life is more than eternity in heaven with God. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus as Lord and Savior. We have eternal life while we live on earth, and this eternal life is a relationship with Jesus.
Through knowing Jesus in this life, our eternal life has already begun. It is not perfect, and we wait for heaven with longing, but eternal life has already begun.
10. Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
All who receive Jesus also receive the Holy Spirit. He comes to dwell in our hearts and guide us through life.
The Holy Spirit seals the promise that we belong to God. If you have received Jesus into your life, the Holy Spirit dwells within you.
He will help you make godly decisions and guide you.
11. Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This verse echoes the truth we found in John 3:16: God demonstrated his love for us through Jesus’ sacrifice.
12. Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Jesus spoke these words to convey a powerful truth: He wants more than lip-service.
We can say we believe in him and follow him, but if we don’t follow through, it’s worth considering that we might not be true followers.
Jesus’ followers are always growing closer to him in a relationship. Does this describe your walk with God?
Bible Verses About Heaven and Eternal Life
The following verses direct address what heaven will be like.
13. John 14:2
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?
Jesus spoke these words to encourage us. He has prepared a home for us in heaven.
When this world does not feel like home, we should remind ourselves that our true home is in heaven. Until we get there, we will all experience homesickness for heaven.
14. 1 Corinthians 2:9
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”
We cannot begin to fathom the wonders of heaven. It will be glorious. There will be no more sorrow or pain.
15. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Jesus will one day return to earth and bring all followers to heaven with him. Those who have died will rise from their graves. Those who are living, will ascend into heaven with him.
We will receive new bodies. The earth will be destroyed, and we will dwell on a new, perfect earth.
16. Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
God will destroy this imperfect earth and create a new earth where we will dwell with him in perfect unity and harmony.
17. Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
On the new earth, there will be no more sadness, death, pain, or crying.
This peace and joy await all followers of Jesus.
18. 2 Peter 3:13
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Do you ever long for something more from this life?
We were all made to dwell with God in perfect communion forever.
One day, we will have peace, rest, and joy as we live with God on the new earth.
Let’s now reflect on these Bible verses about heaven and eternal life as we summarize how to know we will spend eternity with Jesus.
Read here for a list of Bible verses about heaven and eternal life. #heaven #faith #hope Share on XAn Application of These Bible Verses About Heaven and Eternal Life
I was 14 years old when I stumbled into a Scripture verse I that grabbed my heart: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6).
It was a decision point.
Either Jesus was just a fanatic who falsely claimed to be the Messiah, or he was the Son of God and the only pathway to God.
That summer, I came to believe that Jesus was (and is) the Son of God. I received him as my Lord and Savior and committed to following him.
How to Get Into Heaven
I came to this conclusion by studying the following biblical truths:
1. No one is “good enough” to get into heaven by being a good person.
The Bible reminds us in Romans 3:23 that we all fall short of being “good enough” to earn our way to heaven.
We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standards.
None of us are good enough to earn our way into heaven.
2. Everyone needs a Savior.
We can’t earn our way to heaven by making sure good deeds outweigh bad deeds. We can’t give up swearing or lying or cheating or gossiping and suddenly feel confident of our eternity with God.
We’re broken people, and we need someone to save us from ourselves.
We all need a Savior.
3. God is just, and he has to punish sin.
God is good. Because he is a good judge, he is also just. He cannot let sin go overlooked.
Sin is so serious that there must be payment, and if there is no payment, an eternity in hell awaits.
4. Jesus took the punishment we deserve when he died on the cross.
Jesus died on the cross so that God would punish him instead of punishing us. He did away with the old system in which animals had to be sacrificed to pay for sins. This is why he is the “Spotless Lamb of God.”
God punished Jesus instead of punishing you and me.
I wouldn’t send my precious children to die in the place of anyone on this earth. But this is how God showed us just how much he loves us. He willingly sent his Son to die as a demonstration of his love.
5. You can know you are going to heaven by asking Jesus to save you.
It sounds too simple. In our humanness, we feel a deep need to prove our goodness and earn our way into heaven.
This is where grace comes into play. Grace is a free gift. You don’t deserve it and cannot earn it. It is given because of love.
Because of love, Jesus paid the price for your sins.
Because of love, he died on the cross for you.
He would have died on the cross even if you were the only one on earth.
You can rest assured that you will go to heaven if you believe he died on the cross for you and that he rose from the dead to prove that he is indeed God’s Son. Tell him you believe, ask him to forgive you for your sins, and make a decision today to live for him.
Romans 10:9 tells us that if we confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts, we will be saved. If you have never professed belief in Jesus, tell him today. Thank him for dying in your place and ask him to be the Master of your life.
Am I Going to Heaven?
Maybe you’ve been wrestling with the idea of surrendering your life to Jesus.
Perhaps you’ve done unspeakable things, and you’re sure Jesus won’t accept you.
You might be afraid that Jesus will ask you to walk away from something you’re not ready to give up just yet.
Turn to Jesus in the Middle of Your Mess
Sadly, when we think we need to have our lives together before coming to Jesus, we have it backward.
Jesus wants us to run to him in our messiness, brokenness, and sinfulness, and he will do the work of helping us honor him with our choices. This is a process, and it rarely happens overnight. It takes time, and the longer we seek Jesus, the more he works in our lives to help us become more like him.
Today, I gently invite you to consider where you are with Jesus.
If you know that you’ve received Jesus as your Savior, I pray that you will continue to surrender every area of your life to him as you trust him to guide you.
Conversely, if you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ and received his gift of salvation, I encourage you to take this step today. Jesus has been pursuing you all of your life, and he is pursuing you at this very moment.
If you sense that Jesus is pursuing you and asking you to follow him, begin by humbly admitting that you need him. Tell him that you realize you have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standards.
Then, tell him that you believe that he died on the cross to take the punishment you deserve. Instead of punishing you through eternal separation, God loves you so much that he punished his precious Son in your place.
When Jesus died on the cross, he received the punishment you deserve. By believing that he took your place and receiving his free gift of salvation, you can be saved.
The Gift of Salvation
You can’t do anything to earn this salvation. Simply believe that Jesus died for you and receive him as your Savior. You can pray a prayer similar to this as a way of affirming your commitment: “Jesus, I believe that you died in my place, and I receive this gift. Thank you for forgiving my sins. I want to follow you. Come into my life and be my Lord and my Guide.”
Jesus is pursuing you. Turn to him. His love will transform your heart and your life.
As for me, Jesus has changed my life in remarkable ways. After surrendering to him, our relationship continued to strengthen and grow. His love empowered me to make slow changes over time. I now look back and hardly recognize the woman I once was.
The same can be true for you.
How will you respond to Jesus today?
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If these Bible verses about heaven and eternal life blessed you, or if you’d like to help a child in your life grow closer to God, I invite you to explore our family devotionals below. Also, scroll to the bottom of the post for a free devotional eBook to begin growing closer to God today. You’ll find an entire library of free eBooks and devotionals.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Grow in Faith
Lastly, if these Bible verses about heaven and eternal life blessed you, I have a gift for you today: my free 31-day devotional Mornings With Jesus. Mornings With Jesus is not your average daily devotional—it is so much more! This devotional is unique because, in addition to daily readings and reflection questions, it also offers a special section at the end of each post called “Your Invitation to Encounter God and Begin Well.” These exercises will help you actually encounter the Living God during your quiet time. Instead of asking $9.99, I’m offering this devotional for free with promo code JESUS for a limited time right here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
