A few questions!
May I ask you a few Questions?
Firstly: If good works can get you to heaven , then why did Jesus die?
Secondly: If you are good enough to get to heaven because you where Born in A Christian Home and grew up a believer then why does the Bible say that all are born sinners?
Thirdly: If you can get to heaven by saying a prayer without much els happening ,then why does the Bible say that the new Birth is a powerful hearts experience?
Fourthly : If miracles or emotional experiences prove you know Jesus then why does the Bible say that the anti Christ can do miracles?
Fifthly :What is the way to heaven?
Firstly: If good works can get you to heaven , then why did Jesus die?
The cross has no point at all if going to church , being Baptized , giving tithing , singing or doing good to others could make you good enough to enter heaven one day. If it did then there is no reason why God would have sent His Son to die. By God’s Standard (not man’s) we could never be good by doing good and that is why Jesus had to die. In light of God’s Standard we are all sinners ,because we are born sinners and because we have broken God’s Law. You may not have killed someone , but everyone has lied or disobeyed their parents some time in their lives. In God’s eyes to hate is the same a murder and to lust in your heart is the same as Adultery. That’s why Jesus had to die , because all of the good works we could ever do would not take away the punishment we all deserve for breaking even one of God’s Holy Laws. The Bible says God will not clear the guilty. A Holy God could never just forgive sinners because they are religious or have done good works. The Jews thought this and so we read in the Bible .Gal 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness is come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain”. If you could be right with God by keeping the law then Jesus had no reason to die!
Secondly: If you are good enough to get to heaven because you where Born in A Christian Home and grew up a believer then why does the Bible say that all are born sinners?
An old saying goes “In Adams fall we sinned all”. According to the Bible when Adam sinned against God by disobeying His command not to eat of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil then he became a sinful being .We are descendants of Adam and are all born sinful beings. The following verse shows clearly that all are sinners- including those born in a Christian Home. Gal 3:22 “but the scripture hath concluded all under sin,…” 1Jo 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, then we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” The Jews thought because they had Jews for Parents that made them Children of God. John the Baptist rebukes them with the following “Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” The Bible talks of a Godly Father who had a son who did not follow God and said Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth , it shall die. If you are born in a Garage it does not make you a Car. If you are born in a bakery it does not make you a bread. If you are born in a Christian Home and grow up believing it does not make a you a Christian. You are like everybody els. You are born a sinner and have done sin and deserve the punishment for sin in God’s Holy Eyes( i.e. The eternal flames of Hell).Sad,y fro many nice people it will not dawn on their minds till Judgment day that they dont know God and are still sinners in God’s eyes.
Thirdly: If you can get to heaven by saying a prayer without much els happening ,then why does the Bible say that the new Birth is a powerful hearts experience?
Ezekiel36:26 states “ A new heart also will I give you…” So many pray to accept Jesus and often they carry on living a life of sin afterwards.” They say the have had faith in Jesus , but the Bible says in James 2:17 . Even so , if it hath not, is dead, being alone.” If Jesus has come into your life then you are a new creature. You have a new heart which leads to new works driven by true love for the one who died for you.” If you do not have new works then you do not have a new heart and your faith is dead. You cannot just grow up believing . As a sinner you have to take the step of Faith to trust Jesus to save you(i. e. Forgive you for your sinful heart and deeds and make you a child of God) . Jesus has died for your sins and so can forgive you and change your heart in one moment as a free gift. But he will never forgive you if you are proud in your sins. If you are not sick about and sorry about about the sin that keeps you from a living relationship with God then God will not forgive you. You may pray and ask for Jesus to come into your heart , but nothing will happen in reality.
Fourthly : If miracles or emotional experiences prove you know Jesus then why does the Bible say that the anti Christ can do miracles?
The Bible says in Rev 19:20 “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” The anti Christ can do miracles and yet he is not a Christian. He will one day be cast into the lake of fire! The Israelites in the Wilderness had many Miracles and yet were so unspiritual that God wanted to destroy them. Jesus rebuked the two towns where he did most of His miracles ,because they never repented .He said to them that they would receive greater judgment on Judgment day than even Sodom and Gomorah. You see on Judgment day it will not matter how many miracles you have experienced or seen. What will matter is if you know Jesus. Did you repent on earth? That is not just have you left a few of the worse sins in your life . NO! Have you become sick of your heart and deeds, of the fact you don’t really love God and long to do His will(not just out of fear ,but love) , of the fact that you have been proud and considered yourself good where in God’s eyes there is none good ,no not one. Have you come to God in sorrow realizing the only reason God can forgive you is the fact that Jesus died in your place. God the Son took my the punishment for your sins. Did you cry out “ God forgive me and make me thy child” with words or even just as a hearts cry . Did you experience something you could never deserve- I.e. That Jesus came in at that moment and gave you life where you where Spiritually dead, gave you forgiveness where you deserve the eternal flames of hell and afterwards – did you start to experience Biblical fruit in your life . You see if you truly have met with God through Jesus Christ then you are a new creature. The proof of this is not miracles , but powerful fruit. You will love God , you will experience God opening the scripture to you as you read the Bible . You will not love the world. You will still be tempted and may make wrong choices , but you will not love the world because then the love of God is not in you(see 1 John 2:15). On Judgment day only if you know Jesus will you be safe from the eternal wrath of a Holy God. Your good works and your miracles will be a pitiful shield from the Judge of all mankind.
Fifthly :What is the way to heaven?
People know the way to their home. Some know the way to many places in this world. Some astronauts can even say they know the way to the moon. Few know the way to heaven. The way to heaven is simple . Joh 14: 6 “Jesus saith unto him , I am the way, the truth and the life:no man cometh unto the Father,but by me.” Mat 7:14 “Because strait is the gate,and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Jesus is the way to God and heaven . If you know him then you are forgiven , you are a child of God and you have eternal life. Some people think they have eternal life because they read the Bible or go to church . Jesus said in Joh 5:39 “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Joh 5:40 “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”. If you meat with Jesus you have Spiritual life. One day a woman came to him and cried at his feet. She knew that she and met the one who a sinners need could meet. She said no words, but he had seen her humbled heart and he forgave her and told her she was forgiven. Her sins would never be remembered again. You say okay , Jesus is the way, but where is he . I cannot see him. Jesus is everywhere. Act 17:27 “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him , though he be not far from every one of us.” Jesus is not far from every one of us. If you are in a church or in your room or anywhere you can meet with him by calling out for help and he will hear. You cannot see him , but he is there!!! He is truly not far from every one of us!!!