Early this morning I posted a meme that made comments about what would NOT get you into heaven and what WOULD get you into heaven. The comments that ensued were interesting. Very rarely have I posted anything that caused this much conversation.
First let me say that no meme or no single post that I place on this page will contain in it all of Biblical doctrine. I post memes and writings that I hope will challenge you, encourage you, teach you, bring your joy, or make you think. This one certainly did many of those things.
But since this little meme caused such a stir, I thought that I should write about this topic tonight. So here goes.
Good works will NOT get you into heaven. You can be the best philanthropist who ever lived and it will not help you walk through the gates of heaven.
Only trust in Jesus as your Savior will do that. But we must know that good works are a requirement in the life of a Christian. Ephesians 2:10 tells us,
“For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.”
And James 2:14-17 says,
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has
faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily
food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be
warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed
for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.”
Faith and trust in Jesus DEMANDS good works, for to this we were created.
Merely being baptized will not get you into heaven. Many are baptized as children. Just because your parents baptized you does not mean you gain automatic entrance
into heaven. Others were baptized as adults and I would say it is fair to assume that even some who are baptized as adults do not really know Jesus as their Savior.
So baptism in and of itself will NOT get you into heaven. But that does not mean that baptism is unimportant. Mark 16:16 says,
”Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Baptism or profession of one’s faith is an outward expression of an inward commitment to the Lord. This passage however, should not be construed to
say that if a person is not physically baptized that they cannot be saved. The second part of Mark 16:16 says that whoever does not BELIEVE will be condemned.
If you are a true believe then you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and it is this baptism that is necessary for salvation. No one can believe without the Holy
Spirit working in their lives.
Attending church, mass, or Sunday school will not get us into heaven. For many people sit in church pews or at mass every week who have not met and
believed in their hearts in the risen Savior. But does that mean that worshiping together is not important? Quite the contrary. Hebrew 10:24-25 speaks of this when it
tells us this:
“And let us consider how to stimulate one another to
love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling
together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one
another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
So, although going to church will not save us, we are instructed to assemble together to stimulate one another to love each other and to reach out to
those in need.
Giving money and doing charity work will not get us into heaven. No matter how much you do or how much you give you will never be able to give enough
to gain entrance into heaven. Only trust in Jesus as your Savior will do that. But does that mean tithing and charity work are unimportant. No, not at all!
2 Corinthians 9:7 instructs us:
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
That is giving of our time, our treasure, and our talents.
Will taking communion get you to heaven? NO! Only believing in Jesus as your Savior can do that! But I Corinthians 11:26 says,
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
So although taking communion will not save us it does play a vital part in reminding us of the immense sacrifice that was given to pay the debt for our
sins.
Will belonging to a particular denomination or political party get you into heaven? Absolutely NOT!! No denomination, political party, or friendship is
without stain, without sin. Each party has its flaws and each denomination has its flaws. Let’s not get so high and mighty about our affiliations that we start feeling
better of ourselves just because of who we associate with. Only faith and trust in Jesus Christ can bring about salvation which gives us the reward of eternity in heaven.
And positive thinking will not get us into heaven. Many of today’s modern churches will teach and preach the power of positive thinking. This positive
thinking can NEVER get us into heaven. But God loves us and God created us in His image so we should not fail to see ourselves in that way. If we have accepted
Jesus as our Savior, we are not only created in the image of the Almighty God, but we are also now called children of God! What a blessing that is.
So nothing listed in the grouping of what will get you into heaven is bad, but rather most are good, and even commanded. But none of them alone with get you into heaven.
There is ONLY ONE WAY to heaven.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
and you will be saved. Acts 16:31.
John 14:6 further states,
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
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.”
And Acts 4:12 says this about Jesus,
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
So what will get you into heaven? Only faith and trust that Jesus Christ, God Himself, came to earth, lived among men, never sinned, was tortured and sent to the
cross to pay the penalty for our sins, for the sins of all who believe in Him. And that three days later, He rose from the grave and smashed death to smithereens.
He now reigns at the right hand of God the Father and will one day return to earth to bring about a new heaven and a new earth where we will live eternally with
Him in Glory! WOW!! What a Savior!!
Are You Heaven Bound?
© Marlys Popma
Before Your Head Hits The Pillow
October 27, 2015
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