Now notice Revelation 20:4, 6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years…Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”. Again, it is not by any form of human works that one is saved (but keep in mind the book of James says that good works are always indicative of those who are truly saved). When John Newton penned the famous hymn Amazing Grace, he said of God’s grace “…that saved a wretch like me.” The word “wretch” is a biblically apropos description. Jesus did address people going to heaven. The reason is that a person who is truly saved cannot lose his salvation.. Now, I know that a lot of people will disagree with the opening statement because many Christians believe that it is possible to lose … If you just have rubbish and Christ, and you don’t see Christ as superior to the rubbish, you don’t gain Christ. But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). They all must have FAILED! But later, when Simon offers the apostles money to have their ability to impart the Holy Spirit (verses 18–19), he is rebuked sternly by Peter: “May your money perish with you. Paul stated, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. It is the same with all sins, such as adultery, theft, homosexuality, murder or bearing false witness (cf. Before examining three key verses, some background is important. Take this quiz and it will help you determine just how likely it is you're going to go to heaven! Notice: “And there was GIVEN Him [Christ] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” (Dan. But some categories believe that you are judged at the Gates and have to answer a … Daniel explains: “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even forever and ever” (vs. 18). Having studied its climbing history, I have often been fascinated with the routes and ascents of Norman Clyde, who is by far the premiere explorer in all Sierra Nevada climbing history– having notched up over 2000 ascents! Making disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena throughout the world. but for some people, they will go to heaven and there is a specific number who go to heaven which is 144,000. Perhaps the plainest scripture in the Bible about going to heaven is in the Sermon on the Mount—and it does not even mention the word heaven. It would not have been strange for Him to reference Psalms, since all His listeners would have been familiar with this scripture. it depends, for the majority, people on earth who are "saved" will have the hope of living forever in a paradise earth. But how will God rule the peoples and nations of earth? Yet when a famous evangelist was asked, “What will we do when we get to heaven?” he answered, “I don’t know, but it will be wonderful.” Such ignorance!—and if he does not know, how can he “know” it will be wonderful? The only sin that you need to cease from is unbelief, which is the only sin that can keep you out of Heaven. God’s standard of holiness is far too lofty to be achievable through any and all of man’s self-efforts. 5:10). Field below is optional. Certainly, not all are equal in their level of sin, but all are equal in their separation from God. His standard is perfect holiness, and all who rely on an economy of personal achievement fall comparatively short. Each will rule one tribe, with David over all twelve tribes. Why? Daniel answers, “…that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”. Personally, in more than half a century of climbing, I have made more than 300 ascents. Salvation cannot come from self; rather it is a total gift of God. Here is what he said five verses later, removing all doubt: “For David is not ascended into the heavens…”. What could be plainer than these verses? Good person go to heaven. Heaven becomes little more than an assumption in a formula that virtually every professing Christian takes for granted: “Believe in Jesus, go to heaven.”. Mankind is dead—as evidenced and revealed by sin and subsequently, states Ephesians 2, are, by nature (not children of God), children of wrath. Of course, every "truly" saved person will go to heaven. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”. Though this article will address some of the truth on this matter, it will not and cannot cover everything about the truth of salvation. But how does one become a “joint-heir with Christ”? Spiritual death is a quite similar thing. You certainly want to be saved. In a spiritual sense, “sin,” used 173 times in the New Testament (NT), means to miss God’s perfect standard of holiness. I’ll ask again: Have you ever heard a minister say that God’s purpose for you is to “reign on the earth,” as “kings and priests”? A few verses later, He adds, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne…” (3:21). Once you are saved and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you go to Heaven. Salvation is not achieved via personal works—it is achieved by God’s work on our behalf ! In fact, the Lord will even save you in spite of some unbelief, just so long as you act upon your belief and receive the gospel as full-payment for your sins. His motive was most likely to inherit his wealth—in essence revealing that material things were of greater importance to him than following Jesus. You certainly want to be saved. Love for God and Love for People Are Strong Signs of Salvation. Paul counsels him, “She who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.” Note again the clear biblical perspective on mankind’s spiritual status: physically alive but spiritually dead. Consider the twelve apostles. Let’s turn the coin over. Romans 10:9 states, “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him … Are you certain? It is God’s Holy Spirit within the mind that makes one a Christian. If heaven is the reward of the saved, then none of these men made it. Great California Weather Provides Alternative! Christ states, “And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father” (Rev. The Bible is quite specific about David’s coming resurrection—and his position as a ruler over the tribes of Israel. They recognize that they are in training to become teachers and rulers! Baptisms can still play a very important role in the life of a believer. He wanted to wait until his father died (for which there is no indication he was even about to). What assurance do they have? Notice that verse 13 comes only three verses prior to the most universally quoted passage in the Bible—John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”. I have always thought about this question but was never sure. While most know of this Sermon, few know of this most important verse. But in all sobriety and contemplated through the lens of Scripture, from God’s perspective both are in desperate need of Jesus Christ to satisfy the payment for sin in order to be saved from an eternal sentence of separation from Holy God. I will never forget the morning I was playing 3-on-3 basketball with Pete Maravich in Pasadena, California. Which are you? Accordingly, this week I would like to unpack the meaning of Ephesians 2:1–5: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…but God…made us alive together with Christ.”. This is a direct statement. The reward of God’s saints is to inherit future rulership “on the earth”—as “kings and priests.” This is plain! That is the logic of Philippians 3:8. Have you ever heard even one minister say that God’s purpose for Christians is to “inherit the EARTH”? Or do you believe the ministers of this world who virtually suggest, with their ideas about salvation, that Christ was misleading or did not know what He was talking about? To illumine the textual meaning: people do not become liars because they tell a lie; they tell lies because they already are liars. 5:5). We have seen what Christ says IS the calling and reward of a Christian—but did He ever say what it is NOT? It is very simple to be saved and takes only a minute to explain. 2:26-27). And the saints assist Him in “executing judgment.”. Specifically note what Paul states in Ephesians 2:8–9 regarding how one is made alive to God: “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, so that no one may boast.”. They also had just enough. © 2019 Capitol Ministries® All rights reserved. Subscribe to the Real Truth for FREE news and analysis. Let’s confirm where this rulership takes place. Answers like this are why people assume that they will “ride clouds in heaven”—“walk the streets of gold in front of the pearly gates”—“play harps”—“grow wings”—or generally “roll around heaven all day.” All of these ideas are man-made, fiction. It comes from this verse and is a reference to David’s whereabouts! President Biden: China Should Expect `Extreme Competition’ from U.S. 8:14). Now go to the Old Testament. Carefully read this verse with the whole chapter. Contact Information Be honest—of course not! Contemplate what the Book of Romans records in chapter 10 verses 9–10: “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”, If you have not placed your faith in Christ today for salvation, I encourage you to invite Him into your life. Heirs are not yet inheritors. Whereas the world in gushy sentimentalism enjoys characterizing everyone as being “children of God,” Scripture makes it clear that apart from an imputed righteousness through Christ’s work on one’s behalf, all are doomed for eternal failure. According to the holy Word of God in the King James Bible! Christ said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. Many so-called Christians are … Come just as you are. Just like it was in the wilderness, everyone has to get Him for themselves. Have you sought proof? Later Jesus called Himself the Bread from Heaven (John 6:35). "Who then, really can be saved (go to heaven)...?" Before Christ’s Return, God will officially grant Him the authority to rule the world. Later on, when you begin to doubt, you don’t need to recall the memory of sitting down. We will examine a number of them. How Are Experts Tracking Variants of the Coronavirus? Further investigation of the passage involves a careful analysis of the word “in.” The Greek case used here indicates sphere—the sphere in which something exists. . What earns you a ticket to heaven has nothing to do with church attendance or baptism and everything to do with your faith. King David reigned over the nation of Israel about 1,000 years before Christ. Rather, within the sphere of deadness, or borne out of deadness, are trespasses and sins. David is in the grave awaiting the resurrection of the dead, when the just receive their eternal inheritance. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Jesus came to convert people from their bad and evil ways, and so noone can accept him and his teaching without converting to good ways of thinking and behavior.And this - accepting Jesus and converting to good - means being saved. Christ had previously explained to them “That you which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. Luke 1:32 shows that Christ will sit in Jerusalem on the throne of David. This information is required. You have surely heard Christ referred to as “KING of kings and LORD of lords.” Now you know why! Please don't have confidence in a prayer you said long ago. So, let’s get the facts—the truth—of what God teaches. They do not sit idle, “just believing” in Jesus and waiting for heaven. Romans 5:8–9 reinforces this: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”. Your privacy is important to us. Whoever calls upon the Name of the Lord (Jesus) will be Saved. The man’s response to Jesus’ call was one of delay. The email address above will be used for correspondence and free offers from The Restored Church of God. Should you not demand proof that heaven is really what you seek—and where you will go? God says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16). Now think of all God’s servants who had lived during the 4,000 years prior to Christ’s statement. They knew what their own role would be after the resurrection. Those words plus a couple others mean the same thing. Even though man is created in the image of God, which explains the goodness in him, he is tainted by The Fall wherein sin entered the world and forever tarnished God’s image in everyone He created. So says Christ! What is NOT so clear—or even known—to most is what Paul added in verse 17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”. Yet, universalists are confident that no one is going to hell; in fact, studies have shown that most people think they will go to heaven when they die. John 3:3, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:7-8, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must b born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). Everyone gets just what they need to be saved. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and many more, cannot be in heaven. Your present posture is … And yet there it is—at the very beginning of the New Testament. There is no clearer insight than this in the entire Word of God regarding the spiritual status of mankind: Physically alive, but spiritually dead. Christ knew exactly where David was when He made His statement in John 3. In 1 Timothy 5:6, Timothy receives instruction as a pastor on how to handle widows in the church. An heir is one who later inherits what has been promised to him. Speaking of this glorious salvation in Romans 6:4, Scripture attests, “so that…we too might walk in newness of life.” Accordingly, those who have received Christ have been born spiritually (cf. Being saved from sin and receiving eternal life cannot take place by our works. It is about time you know if you will spend all eternity in heaven! It serves as a poignant picture of this week’s Scripture passages I would like to study with you. It states the exact same thing. You have probably also been assured that you will go to heaven some day. Comments or Questions? So I want to emphasize that if we come to Christ only put there and held there by fear, or only put there and held there by some gift of Christ and not his glory, then no, we are not saved. Stating to the redeemed (believers) Paul states: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. You can not enter the kingdom of God unless you are Born again. It is the complete inability and incapacity to respond to spiritual things, especially the Word of God. Notice the parallel thought in this passage: “Another of the disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.’”. You are either saved or lost, there is no in between. Contemplate what the Book of Romans records in chapter 10 verses 9–10: “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Did you notice Christ “comes” to earth rather than we “go” to heaven? The gospel tells us that we only get to heaven through Jesus ( John 14:6 ). Almost all professing Christians believe the saved go to heaven upon death. cm, Filed Under: Great Doctrines of the Bible Tagged With: 2019. Does one really need to be saved to go to heaven? He said, “NO MAN” (not a single one) has gone to heaven! If heaven is the reward of the saved, and David did not make it, then nobody is going to make it. UK Economy Suffered Its Biggest Drop Since 1709, Murders of Women Spark Anger in Lebanon as Domestic Violence Doubles, Computer Hack Exposes Vulnerability of Cash-Strapped U.S. Water Plants. On behalf of those in each group, we desire your participation where, hopefully, you will experience the love of Christ and will grow in His grace and knowledge. That being the case Jesus said, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” What Jesus said similarly reveals Gods perspective of mankind—physically alive but spiritually dead. You probably consider yourself a Christian. There it is! When you first got saved, confessing Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you “sat down” in the chair. By using our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Concern Over Rich-Poor Divide Increases During Pandemic, Italian Ambassador Killed in Attack on Congo Convoy, Myanmar Protests Swell After Junta Raises Specter of Force, Texas Freeze Led to Release of Tons of Air Pollutants as Refineries Shut, Analysis: Europe Braces for Pandemic Reality to Hit Banks, Ten Years After Uprising, Some Bahrainis Still Counting the Cost, Pandemic Woes Seen Swelling Global Ranks of Child Soldiers, Russia Bets on COVID-19 Weakening the West, Report Says. Take this verse for exactly what He said, neither adding to nor taking from it. In Genesis chapter 3, The Fall of man occurs; mankind has been cursed by spiritual death ever since. Salvation is achieved by Christ’s work on another’s behalf. The apostles knew that they will report to David in the kingdom of God. Can just being saved get you to heaven? Iran Says U.S. Move to Seize Oil Shipment Is ‘Act of Piracy’, As War Rages, Over 2 Million Yemeni Children May Starve in 2021, NASA Rover Faces ‘Seven Minutes of Terror’ Before Landing on Mars, On Parkland Anniversary, President Biden Calls for Tougher Gun Laws, France Fights Hold of Islamist Radicals with Raids, Laws. Capitol Ministries is a 501 (c) (3) organization. To Get Saved, I Just Need To Be A Good Person, Right? We will not sell, rent or give your personal information to any outside company or organization. Baptism by the Holy Ghost is what takes place in the heart when one is saved and is a critical aspect of salvation. What seemed like an eternity, a half-hour later the ambulance finally arrived. Related to God’s standard of holiness, all are equal in their failure to even come close to His standard of perfection. Being saved means you are ready to do good and only good from now on. We take your privacy seriously. The sad but real state of every human being who knows not the Redeemer. Simon the sorcerer in Samaria is said to have “believed and was baptized” at the preaching of Philip (Acts 8:13). Then fit all less clear scriptures into the basic overall picture that has been established. He was not confused or misinformed. What may be more amazing is that Christ was quoting Psalm 37:11. I.e., spiritual deadness does not come from trespasses and sins. Getting into heaven requires faith in Jesus Christ. Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,305, Reputation: 7692. It is obvious that Ezekiel 34 is talking about the physical tribes of Israel (vs. 2, 3, 30, 31) and how David will shepherd them after he is resurrected from the dead. This article is written to examine whether heaven is the destination of the saved. Why is almost everyone willing to believe this verse while virtually no one believes what is said just three verses earlier? But note this: There are those who outwardly are better than others; history has recorded a wide variation in the levels of human goodness and evil. Because of this, our hearts are being transformed, we are no longer condemned, and we are free to live for and with Jesus and his followers to help make the whole created order right again. The prophet Daniel, amplifying the saints’ role as kings and priests, writes about the Return of Christ and the establishing of God’s kingdom on earth. The autopsy would later reveal that one of the all-time greatest basketball players was dead the moment he hit the floor, incapable of benefitting from our futile attempts, incapable of responding to any stimulus, incapable of any ability of his own to respond. You must at least admit that becoming a king is more appealing than riding clouds, playing harps or rolling around heaven. Asked by the paper, “Do you believe non-Christians can go to heaven?” Campolo repl All are the ancestors of Adam’s fallen race. It was the morning he would die from a massive heart attack. 7:14). After doing this, we will examine all the supposed “proof texts” about going to heaven. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, “Indeed there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.” To broaden this understanding: Today’s outward manifestations of sin are not a result of improper environmental conditioning, a lack of education or squelched opportunities. Q&A: What’s Happening Between Facebook, Google and Australia? The prophet Ezekiel also foretold David’s resurrection: “And I will set up one shepherd over them [the tribes of Israel], and he shall feed them, even My servant david; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. Making Disciples of Jesus Christ in the Political Arena Throughout the World. This much is clear. If you believe in heaven you probably have wondered a few times whether or not when you die you would go to heaven. Let’s examine another plain scripture, which adds another element. This is made most clear in 1 Corinthians 3:9-17: For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. Can’t Meet Inside for Bible Studies? This is a ridiculous twisting of the verse. Whitney, I may appear quite superior in comparative accomplishment, but in light of Norman Clyde’s standard for excellence, both the novice and I are dismal failures. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:20–47 unavoidably portrays this wherein God peers underneath seemingly good outward actions to judge mankind’s sinful, condemning inward thoughts. You say heaven is the reward of the saved. In this passage, God’s means of salvation could not be any clearer. 34:23-24). Make no mistake; salvation cannot be attained by personal merit or works. This makes salvation seem routine and easy. The biblical teaching on salvation is consistent and repetitive. No matter what you have heard, said, or believed in the past. Many today may think these words are too harsh. Now ask: If all the above men are not in heaven, where are they? As soon as one makes a “law” about it being right or wrong, then it opens a can of worms that can not be recovered. This is what Charles Stanley and all the other Calvinists teach. Please let me show you how to g et to Heaven from the Bible, God's Word... Man is a S inner in the Eyes of a Holy God. Faith is … In this passage, the spiritually dead man is referred to as a “natural man” in contrast to the “spiritual man” who has been made alive to God through Christ (vv. The sinning Christian is an example of the Calvinistic teaching of eternal security. That chilling, stark memory will forever remain etched in my mind. It is not logical at all. There is the tremendous contrast provided in Scripture relative to one who is born spiritually through Christ versus one who has yet to make that life-changing discovery. Some believe Peter’s statement was incomplete or he just forgot David was in heaven. A true follower of Christ and the Bible is an heir with Christ! Did Jesus make any plain statements about men in heaven? The apostle John recorded the following: “And has made them [the saints] unto our God kings and priests: and they [the saints] shall reign on the earth” (Rev. If you're back-slidden, go to Jesus in repentance and receive Him as your Lord and Saviour to cleanse you from sin and, through the Spirit, to enable you to walk in holiness. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.”. To have said that “the meek shall inherit heaven” certainly would have been strange to their ears! . The Christian’s ultimate destiny is to join Christ and share rulership in the kingdom of God over all nations and peoples ON EARTH! The phrase “in My throne” (Rev. A killer can go to heaven. For most of my life I have enjoyed mountaineering in our nation’s magnificent Sierra Nevada. We have read that Christians are to “inherit the earth”—and “rule with Christ.” How, when, where and why does this take place? 19:28). Please enter a valid zip code (do you have the right country selected?). It is about time you know if you will spend all eternity in heaven! Should you not demand proof that heaven is really what you seek—and where you will go? You have probably also been assured that you will go to heaven some day. To “raise up” is to resurrect. John 3:3–6); they have God’s nature, and are spiritual people, capable of living spiritual lives via the now-empowering, now-indwelling Holy Spirit. David is not in heaven. Everyone had to gather their own and everyone got just enough (Exodus 16:16-18). No one gets too much and no one gets too little. One of the fundamental rules of Bible study is to always start with the clearest scriptures on any subject. . Be honest. Do you believe Him? (Revelation 14:1, 3; 20:4-6, Luke 12:32) please see the article in the source for more information :) No, a saved person can never go to hell. In January 2007 Tony Campolo told the Edmonton Journal (Alberta, Canada) that he is not sure who will go to heaven. When Christ returns, the saints rule with Him! All men and women—declares the Bible—are dead in their trespasses and sins. You can murder, rape, rob and pillage, die in your sin and still go to heaven. By what authority have countless millions believed that they are bound for heaven when they die? There is one Name under heaven whereby we must be Saved. I doubt it. A popular doctrine among evangelicals, emergents, and contemplatives today is the idea that a sinner can be saved through Christ without actually believing in him. Concerning the depth of sin’s corruption in the life of unregenerate man, 1 Corinthians 2:14 provides profound insights: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”. One need be saved by the propitiatory work of Christ to go to heaven. Where will this kingdom be? Both words are used here in stereo to illustrate the breadth of hazardous emissions spewing forth from spiritually dead people. Well, getting saved involves more than being … The Bible says in Romans 3:23”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. 1 Timothy 1:9–10), Committing sinful acts does not make one a sinner; rather, sinful acts vividly and accurately reveal man’s sinful nature. David is literally “dead and buried.” You have almost certainly heard this common phrase. Since we know David was not in heaven, then where was he? (To learn more, read my booklet Do the Saved Go to Heaven?). This is why the apostle Jude wrote, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all…” (vs. 14-15). Whereas Scripture teaches that one can evidence genuine Christians by their love ( John 13:35), so one will know dead men by their trespasses and sin. A very important point: There is nothing we can do to 'work' our way to heaven. Again, our salvation is not in question, but the level of rewards we will receive in heaven depends on how we serve God while on earth. Biblically, per this preposition and the remainder of God’s Word, it is quite the opposite: An improper environment, a withheld education or opportunity serve to illustrate the sinful, base nature of man.

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