- Keeping the Ten Commandments
- Gifts to charity
- Doing my best
- Leading a good life
- Good works
- Trying to obey the Golden Rule
- Tithing or giving to the church
- Church membership
- Regular church attendance
- Prayers
- Fasting
- Baptism
- Holy Communion
- Born of Christian parents
- Confirmation
- Penance
- Extreme Unction
Read further to find out if, according to God's Word, the Bible, you're on the way to Heaven.
1 -- The Ten Commandments are God's absolute rules for living. No man has ever perfectly kept God's laws -- except for God's only Son, Jesus. A person will never reach Heaven through his or her own efforts. The Bible says: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His [God's] sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
2, 3, 4 -- Gifts to charity, doing your best, leading a good life are commendable acts, but according to the Bible, they will not save anyone: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5).
5, 6, 7 -- Neither good works, trying to obey the Golden Rule, or giving to the church will get you to Heaven. God's Word says: For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2;8-9),
8, 9, 10, 11 -- Church membership, regular church attendance, prayers, and fasting are good in themselves, but they can never justify sinners before a holy God: We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
12, 13 -- Without trusting in Jesus Christ, baptism and communion cannot help. The Bible shows clearly that these are of spiritual value only when one believes in Jesus Christ. See Acts 8:12; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 23-32.
14 -- Children born into Christian homes need to be saved just like anyone else. As many as received Him [Christ], to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood [not of one's parentage], nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).
15, 16, 17 -- Confirmation, penance, and extreme unction are not the means for going to Heaven. God has provided only one way of salvation.
So what is God's only way of salvation? The one and only means of spending eternity with God in Heaven is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.(John 14:6).
Because we cannot save ourselves by good works, good character, personal effort, or merit of any kind, God sent His Son to die as a substitute for sinners like you and me. When the Lord Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day, He completed everything necessary for your salvation. Now all God requires of you is to receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
So when you trust in Jesus you are saved and are destined to spend eternity in Heaven. Jesus said, "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
Will you accept God's way of salvation? The choice is yours. You may continue to trust in those things listed above. If so, you will go to the grave without Christ and wake up facing God's eternal punishment. Or you can believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.
Be Wise! Choose Christ! Pray to God in words like these: Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and cannot go to Heaven based on my own efforts. My only hope for Heaven is based completely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. I know accept Him as my Lord and Saviour.
-- William MacDonald
