I. SCOPE

The title "How to Get to Heaven Using the Bible'' may sound presumptuous to you. You may well be asking, "how can such an all-inclusive subject be given justice within a study guide when many massive volumes have been written on the subject?” This question was resolved in my mind only after considerable deliberation. First, this is a study guide, using the scriptures as the sole source of authority. Second, the scriptures speak on many subjects, all of them vital to our lives. Only a portion deals directly with God's commands for eternal life. Third, only a representative portion of those scriptures dealing directly with reaching heaven has been used. This is said without apology because all the scriptures would make the study inordinately long, and a conscientious consideration of all the scriptures was made in determining those passages which represent all of God's will on this subject. You are encouraged to read each scripture in its context, only with other scriptures, to verify that nothing has been added to nor subtracted from God's word. If you find any misrepresentations, please let me know. I am vitally concerned over my own soul and would truly appreciate correction if I have improperly presented God's word. On the other hand, I encourage you to seriously consider the scriptures presented, in view of your own soul, and to put them into practice while God has given you opportunity. Let the word of God speak with its full power for we know that is "the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6: 17), "quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4: 12)


II. BACKGROUND 

This publication is the culmination of many years of development. The basic concept of the chain scripture method of studying the scriptures came from Ivan Stewart's book, From House To House. Sidney Ellis, minister in Colorado Springs, Colorado back in 1962. Then in 1971 Ike Hamilton expanded it into a working booklet that anyone could immediately use either to teach, or to learn through self-study, God's commands for salvation are directly from His word. Previous editions have already been distributed in many forms, with frequent reports of their effectiveness. This is a proven work, having already withstood the test of use. Certainly, perfection has not been achieved, however; the recommendations for further improvement will be greatly appreciated. 

III. PURPOSE 

This manual has been produced for both joint study and self-study of the scriptures. You will note that no question is asked which cannot be answered by the scriptures themselves, absolutely ruling out the possibility of human opinion in such a critical subject as our soul's salvation. You are encouraged to write the question answers in the booklet itself. All you need is your own Bible to get started. We use and recommend the NKJ version when studying.

Thank you in advance for taking time to increase your knowledge of God’s word through this study. It is my prayerful hope that this work may aid others in learning and obeying God's commands or eternal life. 

The charts and fill in the blank areas have been added as well as many other scriptures and questions as a convenience when taking a Bible class either in person or online.

I like to start with the Bible vs. Tradition Knowledge assessment, so you can get a better understanding of what you were taught compared to what the Bible teaches, we have been taught error through song, and stories, and sayings that we believe is actually correct in the Bible, when in fact it is not even in the Bible or it is not correct as to what the Bible says on the subject.

In Him,  

Jay Weaver