Parable of Two Sons

Matt 21:28   But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.

29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Introduction: The only sin that will keep a person out of heaven is the sin of unbelief

The easiest thing to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet it is the biggest stumbling block for many people

Ac 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

2 kings 5:10  And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

11  But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12  Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

13  And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

Why do people stumble at believing this great gift of salvation?  

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him:

I.  Believe that there is a life after death

Ac 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

II.  Believe there is a hell

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

III. Believe that we are sinners and deserve the doom of hell

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away

IV.  Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and arose from the grave to paid our debt of sin

I Cor 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

II Cor 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

V.  Believe there is a Heaven for those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

Acts16:30  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

VI.  Believe that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Conclusion: Anyone can be saved!

2 Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

Heaven or Hell a choice to believe or not to believe.