August 26th 2018
Jesus Is The Answer! When The Question Is, “How Can I Go To Heaven When I Die?”
Luke 13:4-5 (NIV)
Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Dying due to some accidental situation was and is believed to be an indication of punishment, but in these verses, Jesus is telling us, we must repent to avoid spiritual death before we die. Death in this cursed world is never a punishment, if we have already repented! Repenting in this cursed world is only truly possible if our sins are forgiven first! Avoiding sin, or repenting, cannot be accomplished on our own volition. People will sometimes say something like they will join a church when they get their life straightened out first. It is so sad to hear someone who believes they feel they actually have the ability to become a good person based on their own good works. Many people actually believe becoming a “good person” will buy them a ticket to heaven. Somehow, they believe God must accept their understanding of what is good, and if they do it, He must grant them salvation. What do you believe about the salvation power of “good deeds?”
No one can save their immortal soul by being good in this cursed world. Each of us is born with a sinful nature inherited through our kinship to Adam. Nothing we do in this lifetime can remove our sinful nature. The only way any member of mankind can get a ticket to heaven, is by sharing the one Jesus earned in His lifetime on this earth through His sinless life, and perfect sacrificial death. Only Jesus could create the narrow path that leads to heaven, which we can take when we accept His perfect sacrifice as the fee! John wrote about this necessity of having or knowing the Son, which is required to repent and possess “life.” He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1John 5:12). Jesus came into this world as the second Adam to offer the needed perfect sacrifice required to reinstate mankind’s ability to deserve salvation without the need of animal sacrifices.
Salvation can only be claimed, it can never be gained through good deeds! Sorry, it just seemed important to state this again, as it seems so many people do not believe this to be true. Paul wrote about this acceptance of salvation, and even termed it as “winning a prize!” I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14). What a wonderful idea to “press on towards the goal to win the prize!” Then even better Paul writes, “the prize for which God has called me heavenwards.” Did you get that God is calling YOU heavenwards, because you have accepted, not worked for, a prize that Jesus offers all those who will accept it? Heaven is always and only, a free gift! It is amazing that God wants everyone to accept His gift of salvation.
If you believe this wonderful story being presented in this commentary, can you tell someone about it? Are there people you know who do not believe this wonderful story? It is true that most people will not accept this account as being the truth! Some of them may even share a pew with you at the worship service at the church of your choice. If you believe that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven, then anyone who follows any member of mankind other than Jesus will go to hell when they die to this life! That is a hard lesson and is difficult to believe, but Jesus Himself told us that it is true. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:2-7)
Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for everyone who chooses to follow Him. No other member of mankind is or can prepare a place in heaven for YOU! There is only one God, and there is only one Way by which you or anyone can be saved, and it is by following Jesus Christ. All other religions are not following Jesus Christ, and thus, their religion or good deeds can NOT force God to allow them to go to heaven. No place has been setup for them by Jesus Christ! No one on this earth today can assist you in any way to go to heaven through any religious instructions they may have or that they may create. Jesus talked about this requirement of coming to know about the Holy Spirit and believing that God allows Him to be on this earth and indwell believers in Christ Jesus, so we can understand the Word of God. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:30-32)
Jesus is not still available to communicate with believers, but God has left behind the Word (Bible) and the Holy Spirit to guide us through this lifetime and be able to repent of our sinful nature. Notice what Jesus said about this Holy Spirit and that mankind cannot be forgiven for speaking against Him. Jesus said, anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Anyone who believes that the Holy Spirit exists and is here to help us would not speak out against Him! Anyone who allows themselves to be indwelt by this Holy Spirit would certainly not blaspheme Him!
Today it seems there are increasing numbers of people who do not believe there is such a being as the Holy Spirit, and thus, they may speak of Him only through blaspheming terms. Paul wrote about such times in the last days. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2Timothy 3:1-5). Paul gives Timothy a warning to “Have nothing to do with them.” Realize here Paul is likely warning Timothy about people who are professing to be followers of Jesus in the early church.
When we read the previous paragraph, it seems we certainly must be in the last days. The writer of Hebrews wrote using the term last days. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus is the answer! When the question is, “How can I go to heaven when I die?”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Luke 13:4-5 (NIV)
Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
Dying due to some accidental situation was and is believed to be an indication of punishment, but in these verses, Jesus is telling us, we must repent to avoid spiritual death before we die. Death in this cursed world is never a punishment, if we have already repented! Repenting in this cursed world is only truly possible if our sins are forgiven first! Avoiding sin, or repenting, cannot be accomplished on our own volition. People will sometimes say something like they will join a church when they get their life straightened out first. It is so sad to hear someone who believes they feel they actually have the ability to become a good person based on their own good works. Many people actually believe becoming a “good person” will buy them a ticket to heaven. Somehow, they believe God must accept their understanding of what is good, and if they do it, He must grant them salvation. What do you believe about the salvation power of “good deeds?”
No one can save their immortal soul by being good in this cursed world. Each of us is born with a sinful nature inherited through our kinship to Adam. Nothing we do in this lifetime can remove our sinful nature. The only way any member of mankind can get a ticket to heaven, is by sharing the one Jesus earned in His lifetime on this earth through His sinless life, and perfect sacrificial death. Only Jesus could create the narrow path that leads to heaven, which we can take when we accept His perfect sacrifice as the fee! John wrote about this necessity of having or knowing the Son, which is required to repent and possess “life.” He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1John 5:12). Jesus came into this world as the second Adam to offer the needed perfect sacrifice required to reinstate mankind’s ability to deserve salvation without the need of animal sacrifices.
Salvation can only be claimed, it can never be gained through good deeds! Sorry, it just seemed important to state this again, as it seems so many people do not believe this to be true. Paul wrote about this acceptance of salvation, and even termed it as “winning a prize!” I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14). What a wonderful idea to “press on towards the goal to win the prize!” Then even better Paul writes, “the prize for which God has called me heavenwards.” Did you get that God is calling YOU heavenwards, because you have accepted, not worked for, a prize that Jesus offers all those who will accept it? Heaven is always and only, a free gift! It is amazing that God wants everyone to accept His gift of salvation.
If you believe this wonderful story being presented in this commentary, can you tell someone about it? Are there people you know who do not believe this wonderful story? It is true that most people will not accept this account as being the truth! Some of them may even share a pew with you at the worship service at the church of your choice. If you believe that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven, then anyone who follows any member of mankind other than Jesus will go to hell when they die to this life! That is a hard lesson and is difficult to believe, but Jesus Himself told us that it is true. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:2-7)
Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for everyone who chooses to follow Him. No other member of mankind is or can prepare a place in heaven for YOU! There is only one God, and there is only one Way by which you or anyone can be saved, and it is by following Jesus Christ. All other religions are not following Jesus Christ, and thus, their religion or good deeds can NOT force God to allow them to go to heaven. No place has been setup for them by Jesus Christ! No one on this earth today can assist you in any way to go to heaven through any religious instructions they may have or that they may create. Jesus talked about this requirement of coming to know about the Holy Spirit and believing that God allows Him to be on this earth and indwell believers in Christ Jesus, so we can understand the Word of God. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:30-32)
Jesus is not still available to communicate with believers, but God has left behind the Word (Bible) and the Holy Spirit to guide us through this lifetime and be able to repent of our sinful nature. Notice what Jesus said about this Holy Spirit and that mankind cannot be forgiven for speaking against Him. Jesus said, anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Anyone who believes that the Holy Spirit exists and is here to help us would not speak out against Him! Anyone who allows themselves to be indwelt by this Holy Spirit would certainly not blaspheme Him!
Today it seems there are increasing numbers of people who do not believe there is such a being as the Holy Spirit, and thus, they may speak of Him only through blaspheming terms. Paul wrote about such times in the last days. But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2Timothy 3:1-5). Paul gives Timothy a warning to “Have nothing to do with them.” Realize here Paul is likely warning Timothy about people who are professing to be followers of Jesus in the early church.
When we read the previous paragraph, it seems we certainly must be in the last days. The writer of Hebrews wrote using the term last days. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus is the answer! When the question is, “How can I go to heaven when I die?”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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