Can a person be 100% sure s/he's going to heaven?

Question

Is it pride (or presumption) for someone to say she is 100% sure she's going to heaven? Many "born-again" Christians claim to KNOW they're "saved" and believe that ANY doubt of this is sin. But didn't St. Paul say, "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead"? That doesn't sound like 100% certainty. Doesn't "faith," by its very definition, mean that there is NOT 100% certainty? Isn't a difference between say "I believe in something with all my heart" and "I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt"? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one!

No, RUA DOC, St. Paul actually expressed a wish: "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Cor. 5:8). He did not say he was 100% certain he would be present with the Lord.

Answer 1

No-one can be 100% certain they'll go to heaven.
We know that we have all sinned;-{
but trust in the promises of Christ to save us.
That's why it's called Faith!

Answer 2

I think it's inappropriate and spiritually unhealthy to obsess about one's afterlife status. To assume that one is perdition-proof is indeed a sin of pride, a presumption that one has assented to all the right beliefs and won the salvation game. (How is that NOT "salvation by works"?) Similarly, perpetual anxiety about losing one's salvation (because one hasn't said the right prayers or has had an impure thought, or whatever) is just as unhealthy.

Both viewpoints are useless. They keep people from doing what they are supposed to as Christians, loving neighbors and enemies, resisting the urge to retaliate against personal attacks while challenging systemic injustice, speaking truth to power, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting and healing the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and generally reassuring the marginalized that God cares for them.

If it's all about my personal reward or punishment, then I don't really understand the purpose of Christianity. The point is to believe in God's power and benevolence, then act accordingly, not to keep checking my score. One should not care about the percentage of certainty of heaven for oneself. They should rather worry about how well they have modeled Christian behavior to others.

Answer 3

in case you do not have faith in God, heaven or Hell, then what's your reason at the back of desirous to appreciate the respond? Why ought to we waste our time on an infidel? a million. homicide is incorrect 2. All infants bypass to heaven whilst they die why? using fact they don't have the understanding of sin yet, it somewhat is the reason people whose brains in no way improve totally bypass to heaven whilst they did too. Sin isn't imputed the place there is no awareness of the regulation Romans 5:13 For till the regulation sin replaced into interior the worldwide: yet sin isn't imputed whilst there is no regulation. Romans 5:14 regardless of the indisputable fact that dying reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had no longer sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who's the determine of him that replaced into back. Romans 5:15 yet no longer using fact the offence, so is likewise the unfastened present. For if in the process the offence of one many be ineffective, lots extra the grace of God, and the present by grace, that's thru one guy, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Answer 4

Yes you can.

Paul also said, "absent from the body, present with the Lord."

Sounds like Paul's pretty sure.

It is a good practice to ask question of the Bible but actually read it through in context.

We are all destined for Hell but God stepped in the way and completely paid the sin debt of those that repent and believe.

Answer 5

Yes. A person can be 100% sure they are going to heaven.

I person who believes in the Name of Jesus and the promises of Him and Our Father God are assured salvation and acceptance into the heavenly realm - serving them in spirit for eternity.

What I cannot be 100% certain of is that your quote from Paul was not taken out of context - reason being is you don't include ch/v. and I'm no whiz-kid in who said what where in the bible. But seeing as how most ateistic posters lean toward Paul as their main point of example (and his language often being used out of context) I can be relatively certain this is the same case here.

No, as a matter of fact, in all the definitions of faith, the main concept is certainty -albeit without "material evidence", but certainty nonetheless.

There is a difference between your last two statements. Believe is a mental habit of placing trust and confidence in another(God) or acceptance/conviction of truth/validity. Whereas knowledge is carnal - relying solely on experiene and study.

There's my 2 cents - and 2 points to boot.

Blessings to all.

Answer 6

I am 100% sure I am going to heaven! The reason that I am 100% sure is because I believe the bible to be the full truth of God and it says God isn't a liar. If he isn't a liar, then when he say, Whoever believes in the my son shall have everlasting life, is true. It also says the only way to heaven is through the son (Jesus). This means since I believe in Jesus as my savior from sins and I have given my life all over to him, not just some times, but all the time. I will be in heaven.

Answer 7

I utterly agree; it is both pride and presumption for anyone to claim to know their own or another's ultimate destination. That's God's call, and God's alone. And there is no one save a baby that has not sinned. I suspect these people don't see the presumption, though.
What I hear (2nd-hand accounts) is that the born-again types you mentioned are told by converting/being rejuvenated in their faith that this action will bring them to Heaven. They believe it, right or wrong or questionable.

Answer 8

The Holy Bible & Jesus Christ say and promise it. The recorded history of their given word, promises, covenants, & prophesies of the future and end times made over 2000+ years ago, are coming to pass before OUR very eyes today

So it is not hard at all for me to believe God Almighty & Jesus Christ promises.

For me, my 100% belief is not pride nor presumption, it is deep humbling appreciation for such grace and mercy from a perfect and holy God, because I know I do not deserve it and I can never earn the gift God Almighty gave me through His Son, Jesus Christ.

And I believe the scripture you are referring to is in Acts 23.
You need to read the entire chapter to have and keep the scripture you quoted in proper context. Paul has been brought before the religious council filled with Pharisees & Sadduces to determine his guilt or innocence.

The Pharisees, even though Paul was born of the Pharisees, did not believe in anything; the Sadducees believed what Paul was teaching. They continued to argue and Paul standing in the middle of all these bickering and howling men finally basically said, "At this rate, you two groups will STILL be arguing my fate when Jesus returns."

Faith is not faith for things that we already have in our hands.
Faith in God Almighty & Jesus Christ is 100% assured. If they said it, it did, it has, and it will happen in the fullness of time.

Faith in Man & this life is not 100% assured.

The mistake, I make if I do not watch myself, and remember God's word, is that I give people & life my 100% belief. That is the mistake. I attribute to man what can ONLY be assured by God Almighty and Jesus Christ.

Answer 9

John 3:16, Romans 10:9-13, Book of Revelation.
John 14:1-3, many other places in the KJB

Answer 10

When we are aware that Christ died on the cross for ALL of our sins, past, present and future, and have received God's forgiveness in faith, and know that it's by His GRACE that has saved us from our sins and nothing that we did on our parts except to receive it as a gift, then Yes! In faith, we are absolutely sure, 100% that we are going to heaven. Faith is the substance,(the reality) of those things we hope for, the evidence of those things we do not yet see. The reality is in us through Christ, even though we're not in heaven yet, physically. Our spirits already living that reality, although our bodies are not.

Answer 11

If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus died and has resurrected for your sins you are saved.Meaning your given eternal life through Jesus sacrifice and becoming the mediator between God and man.He is the only reason one is promised eternal life.This does not mean you are sinless only forgiven,your name is in the book of life,these facts are all throughout scripture.New testament,unless a man is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God.If this offends it is based on bible knowledge which I believe is the final words of God to his people.Its a choice I have made to believe,but cannot force others to.Be blessed and loved I am assured by Jesus 100% heaven is my eternity,unless I deny HIM.