There has been a large debate around the many different religions that exist. Many people believe and have speculated that if we simply just believe in God or be a good person, we can go to heaven. Others believe that only Christians, regardless of denomination or specification, are going to heaven.
This controversy has been around for ages, and let me first start off by saying, confusion is not from God. God clearly addresses these concerns in his Word to us and makes it plain for us to understand.
So, what does the Bible say?
1. Jesus is the Head
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:8-10 NKJV
Are Christians the only ones going to heaven? The only ones who are going to heaven are those that believe in Jesus and keep his commandments. Anyone who adds, or takes away from Jesus’ doctrine, will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. This is a very deep concept to understand, and I am afraid that it cannot be covered entirely in one article, so I have split this into two parts. In this post, I am predominantly focusing on Jesus Christ because really, he is all that matters. In the Bible, Jesus details all the ways to serve Him and commit your life to him. I won’t go into all of that in this post today. This post is about why any religion that doesn’t acknowledge Jesus Christ as the ruler and God of all, will not allow any of its followers to gain access to heaven. Heaven is very exclusive, and as I briefly mentioned before, simply believing in Jesus or doing good in this world will not permit you access in. But let’s focus on Jesus and why he is the one true answer to heaven’s gates.
2. Jesus is the Way
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 NKJV
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”” Acts 4:12 NKJV
Anyone who tries to go around Jesus, pass him by, or completely ignore his existence, will not receive true salvation. What is salvation? Salvation is the redemption of our sins. No one will get into heaven sinful (Hebrews 12:14). No one can get rid of sin without the blood of Jesus.
3. Without Jesus, we will die and remain dead.
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that 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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:8-11 NKJV
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 NKJV
When the world began, humans were without sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, it was passed down to every human alive ever since. We are naturally born into sin and automatically need to be saved. This is because everyone who sins must die. This statement was declared by God since the beginning of the world. How are we saved from death? Jesus died in place of us, so we don’t have to. In order to gain that gift, we simply must believe in Him and have a relationship with Him.
When Jesus died, he not only saved us from the punishment of sin but became an example of what we will be like without sin. He rose from the dead so we will rise too. If we believe in Jesus, and accept him as our Lord and Saviour, we will not remain dead but will rise again and live with Him in heaven forever. This is why it is important that we believe in Jesus. Before Jesus, no one rose from the dead. No one had that power or ability. Without Jesus, and the Power he gives us, we will die and not rise again to life but to death in hell. Plainly speaking, without believing in Jesus, you have no resurrecting power, and no ability to make it into heaven.
4. Jesus is the beginning and ending of it all
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”” Revelation 22:13 NKJV
Jesus created all things, and all things start and end with Him. He created the world as we know it and he will destroy it to create a new, better one. The only way to get into the new world that is created is to be in agreement with its creator.
I hope this clears up any confusion around the idea or notion that if you are just a good person, or of any other religion or belief, that you can obtain everlasting life. Jesus explicitly says that he is the only way to get to heaven. You must believe in Jesus, have a relationship with Him and keep his commandments. This is the only way to get into heaven. Any other religion or belief that states otherwise will not get into God’s great kingdom.
I know this sparks great discomfort in many people but imagine if the opposite were true. The division, calamity, and unequally yoked individuals that would reign in heaven would be catastrophic! Jesus is the one true God and in heaven he only will reign above all. Anyone who does not recognize this will not get into heaven.
As Christians, we must hold our faith firm. There will be many people who will judge us, condemn us, and ridicule us for believing as we do so strongly. That is okay. Everyone is entitled to believe what they believe, and that includes us as well. Don’t let your faith or truth waiver. Jesus is the one true God and Savior.
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:14-20 NKJV
This post was all about determining which religion is going to heaven.
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