What are the requirements for a person to get to heaven?

[tulipbee]

You want to go to hell? Why would you want that?

It's mankind's natural naturalness to want to do evil but they have no clue what hell is. Those that God drew will want to go to Heaven. Those that god didn't draw will remain in the state they were born with.

 

[steve_bakr]

What are the requirements for a person to get to heaven?

Let's say that loving your neighbor as yourself would be a great start.

 

[doubtingmerle]

Morality is absolutly meaningless.

Take another look at what Chirst said the conditions of your salvation are. 'Morality' is not among that list.

No? Then please, what is on the list?

 

[doubtingmerle]

Let's say that loving your neighbor as yourself would be a great start.

I'm confused. Some people say that morality is meaningless. You say it is the start to salvation?

OK, so our list now becomes:

1. Love your neighbor as yourself
2. ... (Uh, what's next on the list.)

Is this list the final answer?

 

[doubtingmerle]

Morality is absolutly meaningless.

Take another look at what Chirst said the conditions of your salvation are. 'Morality' is not among that list.

Ok, so one can lie, cheat, steal, rape, murder and plunder without limit, and that is absolutely meaningless to the question of salvation?

If God is just, surely morality must not be meaningless.

 

[doubtingmerle]

Possibly. I could know this my self-examination, am I a new creation? Do I still do the things that I used to when I was a sinner?

It's a little long, but please please please take the time to listen to Mr. Washer's sermon and this very issue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyHnAKrDFNE

I don't have time for a sermon, just an answer please. What do I need to do to go to heaven?

You have said God does it. But I asked you how you know you are saved, you say because you are a new creation. Really? You feel that you are a new creation so therefore you are going to heaven?

When I met my wife I felt like a new creation. OK, if feeling like a new creation proves one is going to heaven, I guess I am fine for eternity, yes?

Do you all agree? As long as I feel like I am a new creation, all is fine?

 

[doubtingmerle]

1. Faith in Christ.
a. The inevitable inward change that comes from genuine faith.
b. The outward expression of one's faith, as a result of one's inward transformation.

Ah, yet another list? Is this the list to end all lists?

As a person of faith, do you now have the ability to lie? Do you have the ability to murder? Do you have the ability to pillage and plunder without limit?

If you have the ability to choose those things, then I would want to know what would happen if you made that choice. Would you still have salvation?

If you do not have the ability to choose those things, then you do not have free will.

So which way is it?

 

[steve_bakr]

I'm confused. Some people say that morality is meaningless. You say it is the start to salvation?

OK, so our list now becomes:

1. Love your neighbor as yourself
2. ... (Uh, what's next on the list.)

Is this list the final answer?

Actually, the full list is to love God with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself. This answer comes from Jesus after being asked a similar question.

 

[doubtingmerle]

Actually, the full list is to love God with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself. This answer comes from Jesus after being asked a similar question.

Got it. All we need is love.

And if I have love, then there is no need to force myself to believe a story I don't think is true about the incarnation? Religious belief is optional?

Sounds like a plan to me.

 

[GrayAngel]

Ah, yet another list? Is this the list to end all lists?

As a person of faith, do you now have the ability to lie? Do you have the ability to murder? Do you have the ability to pillage and plunder without limit?

It's not really a list. It's one requirement with bullet points to clarify.

Do I have the ability to sin? Of course I do. Have you read any of the stories in the Bible? David--the "man after God's own heart"--impregnated another man's wife, tried to cover it up, then assigned the man to the front lines so he would die. For as long as we're alive, we will continue to sin.

I think of receiving faith as being a lot like falling in love. Being in love causes a person to act different. It can cause a person's interests to change, such as an increased appreciation for love songs or the things that the object of their love has interest in. Likewise, a person of faith finds himself caring about the same things God cares about. They want to do right simply because God would want them to.

A person who is in love will not always act like he is in love. Loved ones will fight and argue. They might even cheat on their loved one. Israel was compared to an adulterous wife in the Old Testament, and God's people are the same way today.

If you have the ability to choose those things, then I would want to know what would happen if you made that choice. Would you still have salvation?

God never divorced Israel, but he stuck by her despite her infidelity. Christ died for our sins, past, present, and future. He will not die for us a second time, and He doesn't have to. If you are saved, you are saved forever, and you are destined to return if you ever do lose faith.

If you do not have the ability to choose those things, then you do not have free will.

So which way is it?

Free will is not in the Bible. It is a myth. Anyone who says otherwise either hasn't done their research or they are too insecure to question the beliefs they take for granted. Scripture is overwhelmingly in favor of predestination. All of history is written in stone. We just get to see how it plays out.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

Got it. All we need is love.

And if I have love, then there is no need to force myself to believe a story I don't think is true about the incarnation? Religious belief is optional?

Sounds like a plan to me.

I agree with Steve's answer: "Actually, the full list is to love God with all your strength and your neighbor as yourself."

And you said, "Got it. All we need is love." But then, Steve's answer requires us to know what love is. So what is love to you doubtingmerle?

You also then said, "And if I have love ... "

In a non-Christian context, I have no idea what "having" love means. I'm not even sure what that means in a Christian context unless you use the metaphorical language and say that having love is synonymous with having Christ dwell in you.

 

[doubtingmerle]

In a non-Christian context, I have no idea what "having" love means.

Are you serious?

Both Christians and non-Christians can love.

 

[doubtingmerle]

It's not really a list. It's one requirement with bullet points to clarify.

You have one requirement, faith in Christ. What do you mean by "faith in Christ"? Do you mean "confidence in Christ"?

If so, then the one who thinks Christ takes all to heaven has salvation. For he has confidence in Christ (as he defines Christ).

If this is not what you mean by faith, what do you mean?

Do I have the ability to sin? Of course I do. Have you read any of the stories in the Bible? David--the "man after God's own heart"--impregnated another man's wife, tried to cover it up, then assigned the man to the front lines so he would die. For as long as we're alive, we will continue to sin.

This was in response to:

As a person of faith, do you now have the ability to lie? Do you have the ability to murder? Do you have the ability to pillage and plunder without limit?
​

OK, so it appears that your view is that a Christian could murder, pillage and plunder without limit and retain his salvation.

I think of receiving faith as being a lot like falling in love. Being in love causes a person to act different. It can cause a person's interests to change, such as an increased appreciation for love songs or the things that the object of their love has interest in. Likewise, a person of faith finds himself caring about the same things God cares about. They want to do right simply because God would want them to.

A person who is in love will not always act like he is in love. Loved ones will fight and argue. They might even cheat on their loved one. Israel was compared to an adulterous wife in the Old Testament, and God's people are the same way today.

OK, Do we now have 2 requirements for heaven?

1) Faith in Christ
2) Love for God

Feel free to take love off the list if you don't think it belongs there.

God never divorced Israel, but he stuck by her despite her infidelity. Christ died for our sins, past, present, and future. He will not die for us a second time, and He doesn't have to. If you are saved, you are saved forever, and you are destined to return if you ever do lose faith.

And you think Israel did some horrible things and God still loved them, yes? And that is your picture of what salvation is like to the Christian that does horrible sins?

So you are apparently saying, "The outward expression of one's faith" could be indescribably small, and the "result of one's inward transformation" almost non-existent, but the person who had faith is still bound for heaven? Why even include part b of your requirement for heaven if one can live in gross immorality and still have salvation?

 

[doubtingmerle]

So what is love to you doubtingmerle?

To me love means caring deeply for the needs and feeling of others and taking actions that are for the good of others.

What is love to you?

 

[GrayAngel]

You have one requirement, faith in Christ. What do you mean by "faith in Christ"? Do you mean "confidence in Christ"?

If so, then the one who thinks Christ takes all to heaven has salvation. For he has confidence in Christ (as he defines Christ).

If this is not what you mean by faith, what do you mean?

Faith is similar to belief, and is often used interchangeably. However, from the the Bible describes it, it is really something that runs much deeper. A person can believe that a parachute can keep him from falling to his death, but if he doesn't jump out of the plane, he lacks faith. Faith leads to action.

You can believe that Jesus will save everyone, but that won't get anyone but you into Heaven. The Bible doesn't say that you have to have a complete understanding of the Gospel to be saved. If our beliefs had to be 100% in line with what scripture teaches, very few of us would be saved.

The only danger is that believing that faith isn't necessary to go to Heaven will lead one to feel no urgency for spreading the Gospel. After all, what's the point in spreading it if no one needs to know it? Why should people risk their lives to bring the message of the Bible to people who are hostile to it?

And as I said, a lack of action means a lack of faith. Theoretically, someone could get into Heaven while thinking this way. However, if that believe leads to inaction, then they may not be saved.

This was in response to:

As a person of faith, do you now have the ability to lie? Do you have the ability to murder? Do you have the ability to pillage and plunder without limit?
​

OK, so it appears that your view is that a Christian could murder, pillage and plunder without limit and retain his salvation.

They can, and they have. No sin can disqualify someone for Heaven. (I can talk about the so-called "unforgivable sin" later, if you want.) If it could, then our salvation would be contingent on our actions, not our faith. However, faith causes us to hate these sins, and we will try to stay away from them.

OK, Do we now have 2 requirements for heaven?

1) Faith in Christ
2) Love for God

Feel free to take love off the list if you don't think it belongs there.

Faith and love are inseparable. You cannot have faith without love for God, and you cannot truly love God without faith. The only requirement is faith, and love comes with it.

And you think Israel did some horrible things and God still loved them, yes? And that is your picture of what salvation is like to the Christian that does horrible sins?

So you are apparently saying, "The outward expression of one's faith" could be indescribably small, and the "result of one's inward transformation" almost non-existent, but the person who had faith is still bound for heaven? Why even include part b of your requirement for heaven if one can live in gross immorality and still have salvation?

Although sin will always be a part of our lives, we will not live by it. We live in repentence, making an effort to avoid sinning and displeasing God, and trying to do what's right. The Holy Spirit works in us to improve. A Christian of faith will not live in gross immorality, but their pattern will be one of righteous living. One may lose focus for a while, and it is possible that a Christian had not been saved yet but will be later.

The picture you're painting is one of a serial killer who has some faith, but still murders anyway. That just isn't realistic. A serial killer is not saved. It is possible that they could find faith in prison, in which case no sin is too great for Christ. But once saved, a Christian is not capable of that kind of evil.

 

[steve_bakr]

It's not really a list. It's one requirement with bullet points to clarify.

Do I have the ability to sin? Of course I do. Have you read any of the stories in the Bible? David--the "man after God's own heart"--impregnated another man's wife, tried to cover it up, then assigned the man to the front lines so he would die. For as long as we're alive, we will continue to sin.

I think of receiving faith as being a lot like falling in love. Being in love causes a person to act different. It can cause a person's interests to change, such as an increased appreciation for love songs or the things that the object of their love has interest in. Likewise, a person of faith finds himself caring about the same things God cares about. They want to do right simply because God would want them to.

A person who is in love will not always act like he is in love. Loved ones will fight and argue. They might even cheat on their loved one. Israel was compared to an adulterous wife in the Old Testament, and God's people are the same way today.

God never divorced Israel, but he stuck by her despite her infidelity. Christ died for our sins, past, present, and future. He will not die for us a second time, and He doesn't have to. If you are saved, you are saved forever, and you are destined to return if you ever do lose faith.

Free will is not in the Bible. It is a myth. Anyone who says otherwise either hasn't done their research or they are too insecure to question the beliefs they take for granted. Scripture is overwhelmingly in favor of predestination. All of history is written in stone. We just get to see how it plays out.

The trouble with predestinationism is that love and salvation have no distinctive meaning without free will. Also, strict predestination even limits God's freedom. The future is an open possibility.

 

[doubtingmerle]

Faith is similar to belief, and is often used interchangeably. However, from the the Bible describes it, it is really something that runs much deeper. A person can believe that a parachute can keep him from falling to his death, but if he doesn't jump out of the plane, he lacks faith. Faith leads to action.

You can believe that Jesus will save everyone, but that won't get anyone but you into Heaven. The Bible doesn't say that you have to have a complete understanding of the Gospel to be saved. If our beliefs had to be 100% in line with what scripture teaches, very few of us would be saved.

I am still trying to understand what you think one has to do to go to heaven. In your illustration, you say that saving faith is like jumping with a parachute. What exactly does that mean? Does jumping mean asking Jesus into his heart? Does it mean accepting Jesus as the Lord of her life? Does it mean trying to do good works? Does it mean deciding to love God? Does it mean baptism? (If you "jump" by getting baptized, should we call it diving?) Does Jump mean repent? Must one confess that he is a sinner? Etc., etc., etc.

So many things have been suggested here. Which of those, if any, are included in your jumping plan of salvation.

So that is what it comes down to--we are saved by "jumping" but nobody seems to know exactly what they mean by "jumping out of the plane".

 

[Frenchfrye]

What are the requirements for a person to get to heaven?

Accept salvation as a gift from Jesus
follow Gods laws

 

[doubtingmerle]

Accept salvation as a gift from Jesus
follow Gods laws

That's it? Two requirements? And spiritually jumping out of the plane isn't in the big two?

Which laws are "God's laws"? I am never sure exactly what God wants.

 

[Frenchfrye]

That's it? Two requirements? And spiritually jumping out of the plane isn't in the big two?

Which laws are "God's laws"? I am never sure exactly what God wants.

his big 10 and any commands jesus left with us. do good. that kinda stuff, its all in the bible