Now Christians, I am confused...?

Question

I have seen some Christians say that the only way to get into Heaven is if you're saved, and it doesn't matter what you've done in your life.

I have seen others say that it doesn't matter what you believe, if you're a good person you'll go to Heaven.

So which is it?

Some of the biggest bigots I've seen are the ones that call themselves "Born again." So would they go to Heaven, being hateful but saved, or not? Would a person like Gandhi, a wonderful person that wasn't Christian, go to Heaven or not?

How does it work exactly? Should you be true to yourself and be a good person, or be saved and do whatever the Bible or a pastor/priest/minister tells you?

How am I calling all Christians bigots? I'm talking about a FEW that I know personally, and a FEW others that you see on TV.

In reference to Sam Harris, the worst bigots I know are Christian. They quote verse that supports their bigotry. I would NEVER say that all Christians do this. I am happily married to my Christian husband.

Isn't "accepting Jesus as your Lor and Savior" the definition of a Christian?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj7HcTCb_le.Wut9t7d.Lwrsy6IX?qid=20070328192732AAI8QGC

I also do not claim that people are perfect. It is not humanly possible to be perfect. But it is possible to be a generally good person.

Answer 1

If you have a Christian husband, it seems that you would know the answer. However, I know that things can get pretty confusing, just read some of the answers on Yahoo Answers!

Now, the question is really what does God say about the matter. It doesn't matter what I say or your husband says or the minister or priest says. It does matter what God says. Recently, a friend asked me what the purpose is for the recording of all the measurements and types of cloth that are recorded in Exodus for the making of the Tabernacle. The answer is simple - God wanted the people who had been in Egypt and had worshiped a hundred different gods, each one in a different way, to understand that you cannot come to God in any manner you choose.

So how does one get to heaven? Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me." To the religious man, Nicodemus, who lived an etremely good life from human standards, Jesus said, "You must be born again. No one will see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again." The Apostle John said, (John 1:12-13) "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." And elsewhere we read, (Eph 2:8-9) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." About himself, the Apostle Paul wrote in one place, (Phil 3:4-6) "If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." Not many people can say that they are faultlessly good by human standards. And yet he also stated, (1 Tim 1:15-16) "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." In other words, though by human standards he was faultless, by God's standards he was tragically a sinner.

So, anyone who tells you that you just have to be good and you can make it to heaven hasn't listened to what God has said.

So, if you want to be born again, then first you have to acknowledge that you are so sinful that the eternal God had to die to meet the penalty for your sin. Once you understand and acknowledge that, then you need to believe that Jesus died for you to pay the penalty for your sin. Then you confess your need for forgiveness, trust that God has accepted Jesus' death in your place, and ask Him to forgive you and live in you.

Lots of people profess to be Christians who are not, and a lot of those who claim to be born again, never recognized their sinfulness and never trusted Jesus to come into their lives and transform them.

Sorry for the sermon, but you asked.

Answer 2

All who come to God in The Way He prescirbes will receive His free gift of Salvation. Those become part of The Body of The Chruch of which Jesus The Christ is The Head. Those are the ones of The True Christian Faith. Only those of The Church will enter Heaven...God decides who is and who is not a Christian.... No man, Pastor, priest, Book, doctrin or dogma of man's invention can make any one a Christian

there are a lot more who "think" they are a christian than there are those who Truly are.

it is the coming to God in The Way He prescribes that stops most from making it to God. they follow mans way not God's

You need to study some honest history concerning Gandhi... he was just a man like any other... and he was very far from perfect... he was a politicion and out to achieve a political end... he just had a good PR effort.

There is no one who is worthy of Heaven on their own... there is no good work, or a lifetime of good works, that can earn any one entry into Heaven... and it is not sin that will keep any out... The sin debt of all of mankind has been PAID IN FULL by The Blood of Christ.... it is only by coming to God in The Way He prescribes that will gain anyone the Free Gift of God that will allow them to enter Heaven.

Answer 3

There is only one way to heaven and that's through Jesus Christ, he is the way, the truth and life. Heaven is not for 'good' people but for those who are born again by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. And Christians are not exactly 'perfect' people. We not righteous by ourselves but by the blood of Jesus.The Bible is filled with people who are inperfect, Moses was a murderer, David an adulterer, Solomon had a 700 wives and 300 concubines, just to mention a few. And these are the great names in the Bible, though they were not 'perfect' God used them powerfully. So God can use the biggest bigot.

Answer 4

There is only one way to get to Heaven, that is through accepting the GIFT of salvation that Jesus gives us by his death on the cross and then his defeating death (Gen. OT curse because Adam and Eve disobeyed). Salvation is a GIFT and can not be earned by good deeds or by being a good person. No matter how good someone believes they are, ALL humans are by nature, sinners and need forgiveness from God through accepting Jesus as savior and asking for forgiveness. With forgiveness, your life does change, as you are a new person through your forgiveness. You will not be sin free on this earth, but will be forgiven. You die to your old ways and new through Christ Jesus, hence the words "Born Again" or "Saved". Keeping in mind that a true Christian will not deliberately continue to sin over and over again and pray a lie for forgiveness. God know your TRUE heart.

Always rely on the Bible, God's Word, Jesus - The Word made Flesh. If your Pastor or whatever, tells you something, look for yourself or ask him to so you scripture in the Bible to confirm it. God's word is truth, not mans word. It is about a relationship with Christ not a religion that dictates what man says. That is not to say that all "religions" are not teaching Bible Truths, but they should not be offended if you ask for it to be pointed out or if you yourself search scripture to confirm it.

Answer 5

Salvation is not only for Christians. Salvation is for all people who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. You cannot make it to the Father's house with your own effort or by your goodness or by your wisdom or by your deeds/works. You get saved by the mercy of God, when you want to be saved by Him.

If you are not in heaven, you did not choose heaven. It is important that you place your wisdom to the right foundation. Gandhi was a great person, but if he is not in heaven it is his choice. If you do not believe in heaven and hell, that is your choice. That is your opinion and that does not change the truth about it one iota.

You do not have to believe in the whole Bible. The main thing is that you believe that Jesus died for your sins and He is capable of saving you, and you accept His gift. We get saved only by the mercy and grace of god. He gave us freedom to choose. How hard is that do take? If you think you can go to heaven by being good, what is good enough? If you believe you can go to heaven by your deeds, what is the cut off? Think about it. : )

Answer 6

It's not exactly that extreme one way or another. But in terms of going to heaven, it is to go to be with God. So, it's his house and his rules. If you want to go there, you have to accept the invitation through his son. You don't get there by being good.

But on the other hand, a person who goes through the motions of saying a prayer and then lives their life whatever way they choose, never really made a decision to follow Christ. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior, it's not just about getting fire protection. It's about living a life that is most pleasing to God.

Answer 7

The Bible is quite clear. There is a book of life and only if your name in found in that book do you stay, all others go back to the lakes and rivers of fire. Only those without the Mark of the Beast will be staying.

That is why so many Christians are trying to figure out what the Mark truly is and who the False Prophet truly is.

Follow the wrong prophet and you may not get into that book, no matter how many Praise God's, Hail Mary's or Jesus saves you say.

Answer 8

Christ came to save everyone. By His death, he conquored death. There were many many people who lived in the world until Christ's time who knew nothing about Moses let alone the Messianic prophecy. And for more than 1500 years after Christ's death, there were 3 entire continents (North and South America and Australia) (probably parts of Africa as well) who knew nothing about Christ's saving grace. All these souls are judged according to their station in life.

The barrier that we face is this: how do we treat the poor? How do we treat the hungry, the imprisoned, the naked, how do we treat those around us? Do we love and appreciate the ones we care for? Do we have hearts of stone or hearts of flesh? Do we seek good within one another, or do we condemn as we go through life?

Are we humble enough to ask for help from God when we need it? These are the tests that we are put through while spending time on this planet. Life doesn't get easier, although we seek ease. It gets more and more difficult, with less and less time in which to do it.

Answer 9

#1
Heaven is Not the assigned permanent abode of everyone who is approved by God. This is explained Scripturally in:

Is There a Remedy for Death? :
- Death--A Dreadful Reality!
- The Only Remedy
- - What Is Meant by “Resurrection”?
- - Who Will Be Resurrected?
- - Resurrection to Life in Heaven--For Whom?
- - Who Will Be Resurrected to Life on Earth?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20060315/article_01.htm

The Hereafter--Where Will It Be?:
- Earth Just a Testing Ground?
- Eternal Happiness---In Heaven or on Earth?
- - Rebels in Heaven
- - An Earth Swept Clean
- - Will the Earth Remain Peaceful?
- - Why Some Do Go to Heaven
- - Earth--Mankind's Eternal Home
- - Our Choice--Life or Death
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_01.htm

Many claim to follow the Bible / Christ, yet their conduct belies such claims:

Unbiblical Teachings + Ungodly Actions = Not Christian!
http://www.watchtower.org/library/pr/article_04.htm

True Christians are true to Jehovah God & His principles. They want to, & are therefore true to themselves at one & the same time.

This is 'how it works':

#2
How Can I Be Saved? :
- Have You Been Saved?
- What Must We Do to Be Saved?
- - Following Jesus
- - Belief Prompts Action
- - Jesus' Own Messages
- - Why "Put Up a Hard Fight for the Faith"?
- - Christian Zeal
- - 'God's Word Is Alive'
- - Which is Right?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19960201/article_01.htm

Your Decision to Serve God
- What must you do to become a friend of God?
- How do you make your dedication to God?
- When should you be baptized?
- How can you gain the strength to stay faithful to God? http://www.watchtower.org/library/rq/article_16.htm

Answer 10

Your not the only one who is confused here it seems. I'm afraid there are alot of so called christians who missed the point! Jesus was sent to earth By God! He was here doing the work of God. His mission if you will, was to bring mankind back to God. God's plan was for Jesus to teach us how that would be accomplished. Then to lay down his life as an attonement for the sins of the world. God brought Jesus back to life to show us that his power has no limits that death is not the end. John 5:24 Gives us the promise of eternal life , and verse 25 tells us that the time is coming when the all the dead shall rise and those who have done good will rise to life, and those who have done evil will be condemed. Love God , show mercy and walk humbly with God and you can be saved.
Concern yourself with your own heart , It is not our place to judge those of us who may show bigotry. God knows.

Answer 11

Half of the Christian responses will be "you're saved by faith and works," and the other half will be "you're saved by faith alone and those other guys aren't true Christians." These people can't get their story straight.

And their priorities are screwed up, too: When the Southern Baptists had their national convention last spring, this very question was Number One on the agenda -- while a war raged on the other side of the world with their sons and daughters on the front lines.