IN WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING TO GET INTO HEAVEN?

 
From the Personal Evangelism Kit by Jim McCarthy 
Edited by NiteOwlDave
niteowldave@gmail.com

 
There are many ideas floating around about how we get into Heaven. Many are thought provoking. Many are hunches. Few are rooted in Biblical truth. Let’s examine a few.
 
1.Believing in God
In order to go to Heaven, what must we believe? The Bible teaches that merely acknowledging certain facts about God means little.
 
(See below for the real truth.)
 
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble,” says James 2:19. Also see Matthew 7:21-23. So Satan and his demons also believe in God but, of course, are Hell-bound.
 
2. Being Baptized
How does baptism help us get to Heaven? Nowhere does the Bible teach that baptism makes a person right with God. Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 1:17, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.

3. Going to Church
How does going to church or being a member of a particular church help us attain salvation? The Bible teaches that the church is not a place, but a people – God’s people - also known as the Body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “(The Father) ... gave Him (the Son) to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body.” Also see 1 Corinthians 12:12-13and Colossians 1:18.

4. Receiving the Sacraments
How does receiving the sacraments, especially the Roman Catholic Eucharist, contribute to your salvation? The Bible does not speak of a series of rituals as being necessary for salvation. The biblical purpose of taking bread and wine is simply a reminder of Jesus’ death. He said in Luke 22:19, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Also see 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

5. Praying
In what way does praying help us attain eternal life? Jesus taught that repeating prayers over and over is of no value. Matthew 6:7 says, “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Also see Matthew7:21-23


6. Keeping the Commandments
Are we able to keep the Ten Commandments to God's standard? No way. The Bible teaches that anyone who does not keep the ALL the commandments perfectly will be judged unworthy of Heaven: James 2:10 says, “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Also see Galatians 3:10-12, Romans 3:20,23-28 and7:7-12.


7. Loving Your Neighbor
Do we love our neighbor with the kind of love that God requires? Hardly. Jesus taught: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:39).” Also see Luke10:25-37, 1 John 3:16-18, and James 1:27.

8. Doing Good Works
How many good works do we have to do to earn eternal life? The Scriptures teach that even the best that we do is tainted with sin and are unworthy of God. Isaiah 64:6 says. “All our righteousness (good deeds) is filthy rags.” Also see Romans 3:12,23 and 4:4,5, Ephesians 2:8,9, Titus 3:5 and John 6:28-29.

9. Dying With No Unconfessed Sin
Does the condition of one’s soul at the moment of death affect one’s eternal destiny? Jesus said that those who belong to Him would never be condemned to Hell. John 10:28 says, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Also see Romans 5:8-10,8:33-34 and 1 John 5:11-13.

The above are noble concepts but these things do NOT qualify anyone for Heaven. What does, then? Simply, we must be “saved.” Jesus taught that the only way to a right relationship with God is through Him.