How can I be sure that when I die I will go to heaven?

TL;DR:

We can be certain of heaven by placing our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and trusting that His death and resurrection secured our eternal life. Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, and nothing—past, present, or future—can separate us from His love in Christ.

what does the bible say?

Scripture teaches that believers can know they will go to heaven by placing their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and trusting in His death and resurrection (John 3:16; 1 John 5:13). The Bible assures us that anyone who believes in Jesus, confesses Him as Lord, and believes God raised Him from the dead receives salvation as a free gift of grace (Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9). Assurance comes not from our works but from God’s promises and Christ’s finished work on the cross (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3-4). The Bible promises that nothing—death, life, or any created thing—can separate us from God’s love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). By trusting Jesus, believers can be confident that their eternal home is secure in heaven (John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20).

from the old testament

The Old Testament doesn’t explicitly teach about heaven as the eternal dwelling of believers after death in the way the New Testament does. Its focus is on faithfulness to God, obedience, and covenant relationship, which leads to life and blessing (e.g., Genesis 15:6; Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Life after death is often described vaguely, using terms like Sheol (the place of the dead), rather than a clear picture of heaven (Psalm 16:10; Job 19:25-27).
Assurance in the afterlife in the Old Testament comes from trusting God’s promises. For example, Abraham’s faith in God’s covenant was “counted to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6), showing that trust in God rather than works secures a right relationship with Him. God’s covenant faithfulness and our obedience to His covenant is the path to God’s favor, blessing, and ultimate deliverance.

from the new testament

Can we really know for sure we will go to heaven when we die? The Bible says we can. In 1 John 5:13 we read, "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." The question in this verse is whether we have truly believed in the Son of God.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." If we believe in Christ, we can rest assured that we will enjoy eternity in heaven with Him.
How do we know if we have believed in the Son of God? Romans 10:9 says, "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." This verse reveals the essentials necessary for believing in Jesus.
We must believe Jesus is Lord. In other words, we accept Him as God's Son who came to earth as "God with us" (John 1:14).
We must also believe Jesus rose from the dead. His power over death proved His teachings were true; He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).
When we believe in Him, we receive salvation as God's free gift of grace through faith: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation is not based on our good works; therefore, we cannot lose our salvation because of mistakes we make in seeking to live for Christ.
Romans 8 speaks at length regarding the confidence we have as believers in Jesus about our eternal home in heaven. Its first verse notes, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." When we believe in Jesus as the risen Lord, we are no longer condemned before God. We are forgiven and will be accepted as part of God's family (John 1:12). By the end of Romans 8 we are promised, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

implications for today

Passports show your country of citizenship. But the most important citizenship doesn’t have any documentation. Believers are citizens of heaven, no passport needed. What is needed is faith in Christ and His resurrection.

Are you certain that you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as the risen Lord? Do you know for sure you will go to heaven when you die? How does your life reflect your citizenship? Are you living for Christ? Is He a priority in your life?

If you’re not sure of the answers to those questions, you can decide right now to trust in Christ. There is no special prayer you must pray, but the following prayer can be used to help you take the important first step in believing in Jesus:

"Dear God, I realize I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son who lived a perfect life, died in my place, and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life."

Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please click on the "I have accepted Christ today" button below.

understand

Trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins provides assurance of heaven.
Faith in Jesus, not our works, secures our place in heaven.
Nothing can separate believers from God’s love for all eternity.

reflect

How does trusting Jesus as Lord change your understanding of what it means to live for eternity?
How does God’s promise of eternal life influence how you live your life?
How do you experience God’s love now, and how does that shape your confidence in heaven?

engage

How can our understanding of salvation through faith in Christ deepen the way we encourage one another to live wholeheartedly for the Lord?
How does the assurance of heaven affect how we handle struggles, doubts, or fear of death?
How does the promise that nothing can separate us from God’s love inspire us to pursue reconciliation and peace with others?