Well, I really want to get to heaven. I never found out how; scriptures are pretty vague about this.
Anyone can explain?
Anyone can explain?
Getting to heaven
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Goatee
Jesus, please forgive me, a sinner.
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John 14:2-4
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Jesus came to forgive sinners and thus make us a pathway to heaven.
Only way we can get to Heaven is by following Jesus's teachings and believing in Him.
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Jesus came to forgive sinners and thus make us a pathway to heaven.
Only way we can get to Heaven is by following Jesus's teachings and believing in Him.
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Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
John 14:3 ... I go and prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
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JoeP222w
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Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Repent, turn from sin.
John 3:16-20 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (19) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (20) For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
John 3:3-7 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (4) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (5) Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be born again.
Romans 10:9-10 because, 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. (10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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Lucian Hodoboc
I've already read the Bible
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I wouldn't say vague, but rather contradictory. Some say faith in Jesus' sacrifice alone, others say works and faith.
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You cannot work your way to salvation- In other words, you cannot earn salvation. Works come after salvation as a product (fruit) of your relationship with Christ. (See the words of Christ in John 6:28-29).
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The idea of professing Him to be "Lord" simply means to submit your life to Him. He literally becomes "Lord," and you serve Him. Even the root of the idea of worship (the Hebrew word "shachah" which means to bend the knee or bow) reveals submission, as one does not bow before one he does not serve.
Now I don't know if we go to heaven or rest until the resurrection. What I do know is that when we offer our lives to God through Messiah in faith, that He in turn offers us eternal life. So, whether you close your eyes to this life and open them to see Him in heaven... or close your eyes to this life and see Him coming in the clouds as you are resurrected... either way, when you close your eyes to this life, the next thing you'll see will be the Lord.
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Hello,
As John 3:16 and many other verses of the Bible say if you believe in Jesus you will be saved and go to heaven when you die. But, just what is believing in Jesus? Believing in Jesus is believing that he is the Messiah and believing in his death,burial, and resurrection (Romans 10:9). Because, without his death,burial, and resurrection there can be no salvation and if he isn't the Messiah how can he save us from our sins?
Other helpful things to believe although I don't believe they are a requirement for salvation, is that Jesus is fully God. Jesus helped make the heavens and the Earth along with God the Father (John 1:1-3). Another helpful thing to believe is to believe in the Trinity. Which is basically, that God is three persons in one God. It's a hard concept to grasp and isn't required for salvation But, It's a helpful thing to know and to believe. Not to mention, a majority of our churches today are Trinitarian.
Also, another helpful thing to remember is that it isn't your works that save you. It's believing in God's one and only son that saves you (Ephesians 2:8-9). Although a faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:17). Hope I satisfactorily answered your question. God be with you.
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Paul said that it was "not by works" (i.e. through works), ... but that works will accompany a relationship with God.
Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, ... through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God —
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Where does it say, in the Bible, that we are saved by works as well as faith?
(Ephesians 2:8-9)--For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast..
Now we are told to build up reward in Heaven based on good works. But good works do not get you in there.
The Bible says that those who persevere to the end will be saved and that it is by our testimony in Messiah, and by His Blood that we are saved.
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aiki
Regular Member
Why do you want to get to heaven? Because its a lot nicer than hell? That's not a motivation or reason God will accept from anyone as the basis for allowing them into His kingdom. The only reason God will accept for your entrance into His home, is your soul-deep love for Him, and your trust in His Son as your Saviour, and submission to him as your Lord. Do you love Him? Is He the center, the hub, the foundation, of your life? Is He your God, or just one of the many philosophical/religious accessories with which you embellish your life?
The Bible is actually very clear about how one becomes a part of God's family.
Jesus said,
John 14:6
6 ..."I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 10:9
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved...
Speaking of Jesus, the apostle Peter proclaimed,
Acts 4:12
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
You get to heaven, you enter into God's kingdom, into His family, through Jesus Christ. There is absolutely no other way. How do you enter into God's kingdom through Christ?
Jesus said,
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
The apostle Paul wrote,
Romans 10:9-13
9 ...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
The apostle John wrote,
1 John 4:13-16
13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
What does it mean to believe in Jesus as Saviour and Lord? Is this just a phrase one agrees to intellectually? Not at all.
Jesus said,
Matthew 16:24-25
24 ...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 10:37-39
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 13:5
5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
The apostle James wrote,
James 2:19-20
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
The apostle Paul declared,
Acts 26:19-20
19 "...I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Real faith in Christ, a truly saving faith, anticipates change, a new way of living centered upon Christ. It cannot be only intellectual assent, but a belief that prompts repentance and a fundamental change in one's living.
Keep in mind, though, that works have nothing to do with being saved (Eph 2: 8, 9; Tit. 3:5, 6) They are just the natural and inevitable consequence of genuine salvation. They demonstrate one's new, second, spiritual birth, but they do not ever obtain it.
Living with Jesus as one's Lord, means one yields up all their rights to him and ceases to live independently and to make decisions and take actions unilaterally. Jesus becomes the ground out of which the Christian life is lived. He transforms the believer and conforms the believer's life entirely to himself.
Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Questions so far?
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That's certainly not the impression Jesus gives in His call in Matthew 11:28-30 ...
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Jesus accepts us as we are. We need be only willing to COME to Him.
From that point on, Jesus will TEACH US to have a soul-deep love for God ...
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aiki
Regular Member
If the Gospel communicates anything to us, it communicates the truth that God does not accept us as we are. This is precisely why we need Jesus as our Saviour! We are, in and of ourselves, unregenerate sinners, dead in trespasses and sins, the enemies of God and destined for His wrathful judgment and punishment. So, no, God does not accept us as we are; we need desperately to be changed. And if we are not changed by a new, second spiritual birth, we will be eternally separated from our Maker.
It is a love for God rising in response to His love for us that is to be the primary and fundamental motive for our walking with God (1 Jn. 4:14-19). If it is not, we will one day find ourselves among those to whom Christ says, "I never knew you." The First and Great Commandment out of which all of Christian living emanates is to love God with all of our being (Matt. 22:36-38). That is the one commandment no one claiming to be Christ's can neglect; for it is the motivational ground out of which all of Christian must rise (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
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Jesus accepts us as we are ... because Jesus is the One who changes us. We have no power to change ourselves. Jesus is the One Who makes us FIT for heaven, ... no at all we ourselves.
John 6:37 All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.
Our love for God may, ultimately, be the fundamental motive for our walking with God. To the degree that we fail in this, ... as with any commandment of the Law, ... we have an Advocate in the Son.
I John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world.
God's kingdom is a kingdom based upon LOVE. However, we cannot be FIT for inclusion into that kingdom when we come to Christ. Christ, Himself, must perform the necessary changes in us to make us FIT ...
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aiki
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These statements do not all flow the one to, or from, the other. You will find no where in the Bible a verse which says "God accepts us as we are." Instead, there are plentiful verses that describe all those who are not part of God's family as desperate sinners in dire need of a Saviour. As I said, the Gospel is crystal clear that it is because we are this way and need badly to change, that God sent His Son to die for us.
You are right that we have no power whatever to change ourselves. But change we must, if we are to escape God's judgment. We must be fundamentally transformed by faith in Christ and made new creatures in him. God invites all sinners to come to Him for cleansing and transformation, not because He just accepts sinners as they are (He most certainly does not!), but because He is a loving and merciful God who is willing and able to do for sinners what they cannot do for themselves.
Yes, Jesus makes us fit for heaven - which implies that without him we are not fit for heaven. And Scripture is clear that those who are not fit for heaven are destined for eternal hell. What then, of God's acceptance of the wicked? It is precisely because He does not accept sinners as they are, that through Christ, He changes them and makes them fit for heaven.
With this, Scripture does not agree. It is not that love may ultimately be the fundamental motive for walking with God; love absolutely is the fundamental motive - as the passages I cited make very plain. If we fail to love God and to act out of that love in obeying His commands, our good deeds, as the apostle Paul explained very clearly, are entirely spiritually useless. This doesn't mean our good deeds, however loveless, aren't morally positive, only that they don't serve any eternal, spiritual purpose and/or achieve any eternal/spiritual goal.
Which my makes my case that God does not accept us as we are. Why make fit what is already acceptable?
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DreamerOfTheHeart
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The Gospels are not entirely vague. Focus on the Gospels.
Seek more information from God, and eventually God brings you entry into Heaven.
That is today, here and now, I might add. Heaven in your heart. Just as Jesus said, "Heaven in within and in our midst".
Heaven is both as outerspace, and a parallel dimension next to this one. Using modern terminology.
You can be in Heaven and also live and work on earth at the very same time. This is how things go.
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