Not All Who Claim To Be Christian Go To Heaven
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Nearly 1/3 of the world’s population claim to be Christian.
Christianity is the world’s largest religion, followed by Islam, which makes up just under 1/4 of the world’s population.
Looking at these statistics, one would think that Christians would have reason to be encouraged and happy that over 2 billion people self-identify as Christians.
But there is one verse in Scripture that makes me wonder if this is actually such good news.
Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. – Luke 13:23
This verse is even more serious when viewed through the lens of this one: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus is offering a solemn warning here that there are many Christians who find the narrow gate and try to get through it, but find it impossible.
Why?
Because true Christianity doesn’t jive with their personal theology.
Not All Who Claim To Be Christian Go To Heaven
Recently, my friend Gail from 1-Minute Bible Love Notes shared an article to her Facebook page about how liberal Christians are twisting the gospel. The article is sound and speaks the truth about how Christianity in this generation is being perverted by those who want to believe that they can accept the message of tolerance and inclusion and still be Christians.
They can accept abortion and same-sex marriage and still claim to be Christian.
As I perused the comments on that post, there were some who started their comment off with “But my God would never…..”.
And perhaps that is just the problem!
They have created a god that fits their personal theology, but that god is not the God of the Bible, and their theology isn’t based on Biblical truth.
In fact, less than 1/4 of Christians in America believe that the Bible should be taken word-for-word. Barna Research
In Luke 13, Jesus went on to say that at the final judgment when the door of heaven is shut, there will be many demanding entrance claiming to have known Christ.
They knew the Bible.
They attended church.
They claimed to be a Christian.
But Jesus’ words here are chilling, “I tell you I don’t know you, where you are from.”
It’s not enough to self-identify as a Christian.
It’s not enough to raise your hand, signaling to the pastor that you silently prayed the prayer of salvation.
It’s not enough to even pray the prayer with the pastor after the message.
In fact, it’s not even enough to attend church for years, fellowshipping with other Christians, and doing all kinds of Christian things.
Entrance into heaven isn’t based on a prayer, church attendance, and doing “Christian things”.
Entrance into heaven is based on this one thing alone:
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ that grows out of our acceptance of His sacrifice for our sins and our submission to the precepts and principles of His Word.
Salvation doesn’t happen with just a prayer.
Salvation happens when we put our faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood for our sins. This act of faith initiates the change that begins in the heart of a new believer in Christ.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31
But if someone prays a prayer, but is not yet convinced that he or she is a sinner, that Jesus is the Son of God, and that His blood is the final atonement for their sin, salvation has not yet occurred.
And all of the good Christian things they do and say will amount to nothing on Judgment Day.
This is my conclusion
So, while 1/3 of the world population claims to be Christian, I am left wondering just how many of those 2.1 billion people will really enter heaven.
And yet – it is not God’s will that we live in cynicism and skepticism.
So, while we must conclude that there are many Christians who have yet to have a genuine experience with Jesus Christ, we must also guard our hearts against a critical attitude.
Instead, we pray.
We pray that God will awaken the church!
We pray that the eyes of those who have heard the truth and not yet received it will be opened!
We pray that there will arise a remnant in this generation that will proclaim the truth of God’s Word with strong conviction and boldness!
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Note:
I wrote this post in March of 2017, and it quickly became one of my most popular posts. If you scroll down and read the comments, you’ll see two extremes: those who love the post and those who really had a difficult time getting past the original title: “All Christians Don’t Go to Heaven”.
In a way, I get that people had a hard time with the title. I knew when I published the post, that it would be that way. My goal was to drive people to read a post that I felt carried a crucial message for the church.
That message is “Just because you call yourself a Christian doesn’t mean that you’ll go to heaven.” This is based on Jesus’ words.
However, after much thought, I realize that if people never get past the title of the post – if the title distracts from the content – then I’ve missed the mark.
It is my hope and prayer that this new title will act as a frame to draw the reader’s eye to the content, and not distract.
Very well written Rosiline. And yes, we must stand in prayers and never give up. I love reading all you articles. Be blessed friend.
Amen! Always in prayer for those who need Jesus. Thank you so much for your encouraging words.
Rosilind, please stop promoting a false gospel of salvation!!! You are a very dangerous person! Mixing law and grace = Lukewarm!!!
This is an amazing and well written post. Your honesty and boldness is just what we need in our world today. Thank you for being obedient to Christ and sharing His Word and your heart with us. ❤
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Salvation is not getting your sins forgiven, it’s believing they already ARE!
We are all sinners and fall short in God his glory – how to be saved – this is the gospel of salvation – 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1-4 by trusting and believing the gospel of salvation you are saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise till the day of redemption and nothing can pluck you out of the Father his hand – only by the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we can be washed and cleansed from all of our unrighteousness – eternal security is a free gift – it’s a promise and God Almighty cannot lie!!! Have a blessed day!
This is the gospel of salvation – 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1-4
Witnesses of Christ’s resurrection. 1) Moreover,brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2) ”By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
IT IS FINISHED… Paid in Full !!! But, You Must BELIEVE IT – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV.
1 Timothy 2:4-6
King James Version
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
The Body of Christ is under the headship of Christ, not under the NT. In Ephesians 1:10 Paul explains that the two purposes of God, in heaven and in earth, will be gathered together in one, in and under Christ. We who part of his heavenly purpose are not placed under the NT earthly purpose.
Religion is always dealing with you and what you’re doing and what you’re not doing,
anytime you’re sitting around thinking what should I be doing you’re under religion,
the grace of God is dealing what Christ did.
Under religion man always says look what I’m doing for you God and under grace Christ says look what I did for you man.
Under religion man says look how I went to church under the grace of God Jesus said look how I went to Calvary.
Under religion man says look at how I was raised in my denomination and under grace Christ says look how I was raised from the dead.
Under religion man says look at how I gave my money and under grace Jesus says look at how I gave my life.
Under religion man says look God at how I confessed my sins and under grace Jesus says look man how I took away your sins.
Under religion man says look God at how I stood up against sin and under the grace of God Jesus says look man at how I died for your sins.
Under religion man says look God at how I judged the lost world and under grace Jesus says look man at how I saved the lost world.
Under religion man says look God at how I got up and marched against these evildoers and under grace Jesus says look man how I suffered and died for evildoers.
Under religion man says look God at how I bow down to you and under grace Jesus says look man and how I became one of you.
Under religion man says look God at how I healed the sick and under grace Jesus says look man how I raised the dead.
Under religion man says look God at how I spoke in tongues and under grace Jesus says look man at how I spoke in life.
Under religion man says look God at how successful my life was and under grace Jesus says looked me at how successful my death was.
Religions my friends is always man trying to reach up to God with self effort to be accepted by God.
Through classic Christianity was God reaching down to man through Jesus with love and acceptance and that’s why Paul said we preach Christ and Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews foolishness to the Gentiles but to those whom God has called both Jews and Gentile Christ the power of God and wisdom.
Source ”Truth Time Radio”.
Like many “Christians” today, Satan believes Jesus died on the cross, but not for HIS sins. He believes Jesus has risen, but not for HIS eternal life.
Satan believes the event of the cross but never put his trust in Christ’s finished work for salvation.
Salvation is not: Believing there is a God. (Satan believes that)
Salvation is not: Believing Christ was the Messiah. (Satan believes that)
Salvation is not even… Believing Christ died, was buried and rose the third day. (Satan believes that also)
Salvation is: Believing Christ died for YOUR EVERY SIN and trusting that He rose to give you eternal life IN HIM!
Something Satan and most Christians want no part of because of their PRIDE!
If denominationalists truly believed Christ forgave their sins, they wouldn’t spend so much time trying to GET them forgiven.
One tells you to pray for forgiveness.
One tells you to confess for forgiveness.
One tells you to believe for forgiveness.
One tells you to repent for forgiveness.
One tells you to be baptized for forgiveness.
And keep in mind, all of these folk with a straight face will tell you Christ DIED for your sins. Welcome to Nutsville!!! I think Dorothy got lost on the yellow brick road.
Today I unapologetically proclaim that there is only one way to be saved, and it has nothing to do with getting your sins forgiven. Salvations through FAITH. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Salvation comes to those who are ready to give up on THEIR performance and rest their faith in JESUS’ performance.
The path to salvation is narrow. SO narrow that nothing you do will fit.
Satan will never be saved for the same reason he was kicked out of heaven. P-R-I-D-E. (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Read carefully and count how many times he says “I”.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan is obviously a Narcissist!
Like a vain person in front of the mirror, five times in only three verses he boasts of himself. Pride keeps Satan from being saved as it does most of the world. They have fallen victim to SELFIANITY and are incapable of letting go and letting God. Incapable of taking their filthy hands off their salvation and allowing God to save them by HIS finished work!
If you say — “I said a prayer for forgiveness.” “I confessed for forgiveness.” “I believed for forgiveness.” “I repented for forgiveness.” “I was baptized for forgiveness.”
Then sadly you have fallen for the five I’s just like Satan.
Salvation is not getting your sins forgiven, it’s believing they already ARE!
To be saved, you must first get “I” out of the way.
You only get two educations, the one you’re given and the one you give yourself!
Source ”Truth Time Radio” for solid teaching/rightly dividing the word of truth – also here on youtube – learn the truth and unlearn the lies!
Solid truth!
But our generation hate to hear this…..
How many escaped in Noah’s day
How many barely came out of Sodom
It gives a faint idea of how hard it is to enter in to the narrow gate. Bread and butter Christianity doesn’t do it.
Great Sister.
God bless
Yes!Two very good examples of those who didn’t escape God’s judgement.
Amen!
A wise person once told me, “Who are we to judge who is in and who is out?” (When it comes to the kingdom of heaven.) While you might base it off of outward things, God judges the heart. Saying that liberals won’t go to heaven (which I know is a loose translation of your point) sounds a little like the Pharisees. Do you notice that most of the time when Jesus mentions hell, it’s when he’s talking to them? Not when he’s talking to the prostitutes or thieves. Also, there are many other sins that the church as a whole has decided it’s okay with. Name calling? No problem? Gluttony? Eat up! Divorce? No worries. I couldn’t believe how many “Christians” on my newsfeed used the term “libtards” this election season, apparently forgetting the words of Matthew 5:22. Jesus’s love will bring people to Jesus- not Christian judgment.
While I understand what you’re saying, and agree with you to a point, I think you misunderstand the nature of the article. What I am trying to convey here is that just because we call ourselves “Christian” or self-identify with a religion doesn’t mean we’re going to heaven. We have to follow the steps prescribed in the Word of God: Repent, turn from sin, receive Christ as Lord, fulfill the commands of scripture. We must have a living, growing relationship with Christ.
Jesus did say to the sinners: “Go and sin no more”. He still called out their sin. He didn’t leave them in their sin. He confronted them just as He confronted the religious rulers, just in a different way because their hearts were different. But it doesn’t mean that we do not speak truth and the truth is that there are a lot of people who use the title “Christian” who have never had a personal encounter with Christ. If we don’t talk about this, we leave them in their lost state and do them no favors. I’d rather someone offend me with the truth than to leave me on a path to eternal destruction.
But do we really have to DO anything? Hasn’t it all already been done FOR us? Isn’t that the point of grace? Ephesians 2:8
Sometimes we all go through seasons where we are really close to God and we go through seasons where we stray. It is human nature and it is WHY we need Jesus’ sacrifice.
I heard it said that the gate is so narrow to the kingdom of heaven that only one person can pass. That person is Jesus. For us to pass we must be carried in by Him. It is he who is the way to life, not us and what we do.
I understand what you are trying to say, but making it about what WE do takes the focus off of what HE has already done.
I believe in the sovereignty of God, and I believe in his mercy and the Grace of Jesus.
We don’t do anything for salvation, but once we are saved we must work it out with fear and trembling. We must bear fruit, and bearing fruit requires effort on our part. While a growing Christian will have times when they fail, intentional sin should have no part in a believer’s life. Hebrews 10 has much to say about that.
Hi, I pray this message finds you well ♥️ While I understand your view point, I’ve personally studied this out after breaking free from the cult of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is exactly their view point and how they hold the law over their members heads. When you research who our Messiah was speaking to, you will find that it was Pharisees. He delivered this message to the Jews(The lost house of Israel)first. That’s also why he didn’t tell the 12 disciples to go unto the nations the first time. He first instructed them not to go to the Gentiles until later. This marries up with the parables in Matthew 22. Notice that at the wedding banquet “good AND BAD” get in and they ALL have robes expect one man. That was an unbeliever in the messiahs atonement. It ends saying few are chosen. The bad(sinners) and good(saints) believers have been given wedding garments. I do agree with what your saying about not all Christians are true believers, because they truly are not. I know the cult I broke free from professed with their lips that Jesus was our savior, but it was not what they practiced as they flogged their members in their synagogues and shunned them. I still would never say that they will not make it on judgement day., but I think that’s why we are to be as wise a serpents but gentle as doves.
I cannot agree, sorry. Faith without works is dead. If someone is an evil monster, that monster CANNOT say “It’s fine, god knows my heart”. God is not a god of inclusion, he is THE God of holiness and justice. Go and sin no more isn’t just a catchphrase he used with people. There are no deathbed confessions. Jesus said those who love me and the father will find life, those who do not obey me do not love me and there is no life in them. Firstly, there is ALL of Matthew Chapter 7. Then there are some tidbits from the book of John.
John 14:
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Awesome article Rosilind. I’m loving your prayer recommendations at the end.
I think it is always important to bring it back to Jesus. It is easy to get cynical and pessimistic, but when we bring it back to the Word, then we keep things in proper perspective.
Wonderful to be on the internet! But, is it possible to get the same comments to a website that those kinds of Christians that article is about?
I am unsure about what you’re asking.
I agree with most of what you say. We should not go by our own theology, but by what God tells us. The church has been wrong on many things such as slavery, the treatment of women and interracial relationships and marriage. I do think that we should listen to why other people believe what they do, and not just dismiss them as being blind and not true Christians.
I agree. We need to hear each other out because it could be that we’re saying the same thing, just different ways.
I identify as a Christian and what what makes me identify that way is that I am a believer of Christ. I think anyone who believes in God can be Christian no matter what their life is like, whether they are gay or sometimes take an easier option. Taking the narrow gate is about taking on challenges and not taking the easy way out. Not many people can do that at every challenge. I am one of the Christians that believe that the bible shouldn’t be taken word for word. For example 1 Corinthians 11 says woman should cover their heads in church and 1 Timothy 2:9-15 say woman should be silent. Or in the Old Testament where it says in Leviticus that we shouldn’t eat pig or shellfish. Not everything in the bible should be taken “word for word”. It isn’t up tous to decide who will enter heaven or not. That will be God on his terms not ours.
The problem is that as a follower of Christ, or a believer, we must also follow and believe the Word that He gave us. If we can’t take the Bible literally, then our entire faith must come into question because we now have no foundation for our faith at all. If God isn’t big or powerful enough to protect His own word, then He is not a very big or powerful God. However, if we do believe that He is all-powerful, then we must conclude that His word can be taken literally and we must then conform our lives to it.
Saying the bible must be read literally is like saying a library must be read literally. What needs clarifying is not literalism (which is not courageous or even more Christian, but lazy); all texts need interpretation (hermeneutics) and this requires the hard graft of careful reading (I recommend reading: for beginners Gordon Fee’s How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth; more advanced – Anthony Thiselton’s work in hermeneutics).
Believing in Jesus as I do does not mean I similarly believe in exactly the same way as the next Christian. There are competing tensions, theologies and traditions within the text itself, so when you talk of reading literally or based on “biblical truth”, it sounds like you’re saying everyone must read it like you do and believe it like you do and assert things as you do etc.
I know you mean well and I certainly mean no Ill will so I hope my comment is read in that vein.
I am not expecting anyone to read the Bible the way I do – I am flawed, rather read the Bible as it is written and take it at face value. Yes, we read it literally because it is the literal Word of God.
We can take the bible literally, just not all of it. Jesus loved using figures of speech and fictional stories to prove a point, aka parables. Jesus is God, therefore God does the same elsewhere. Lazarus really didn’t speak to Abraham begging for water and there was no actual prodigal son. GREAT news though is that the bible interprets itself and if any interpretation contradicts what came before then it is the wrong interpretation. Revelations is full of symbols that earlier bible books give an explanation for, which is how John of Patmos was able to get the book into circulation, knowing true studious Christians would understand what he meant.
Even Satan believes in God, but that certainly does not make him a Christian. It takes more than belief as she stated in the article.
True!
A good post, but the Title is a little misleading, I feel. Claiming to be Christian doesn’t make a person a Christian. I believe all Christians go to heaven, and those that don’t were never Christian/saved to begin with. They may have thought they were, pretended they were, given off the illusion that they were, but they weren’t/aren’t!
The reason why I chose this title is because there are those who call themselves Christians and are deceived, believing that if they just believe in God that they will go to heaven. They need to hear the truth.
Amen! The truth will set you free. John 8:32
Amen! Yes!
Wow! Great article. And so true how we get comfortable and/or think “my God would never…” I’m scheduling this to be shared.
Thank you for sharing. Yes – we need to make sure that “our God” is the God of scripture and not some figure we have created in our own mind based on our own personal theology.
It has always been a question as to when God sat down and wrote the Bible. When did God take pen and paper and write literal words down? It has all filtered down through man. And man is imperfect.
It is no question at all as to when God sat down and wrote the Bible. He didn’t sit down and physically write it at all. He chose to divinely speak His words into the ears of trusted men who faithful wrote what they heard – and this over the span of many centuries. Man is imperfect, God isn’t. And I always say that if He isn’t big enough and divine enough to protect His own word, He simply isn’t big or divine enough to deserve our worship. And since I happen to believe He is both big enough and divine enough to deserve my worship, I choose to have faith that He is equally big and divine enough to protect His word from the imperfections of man.
This is such a great article and something that weighs heavily on my heart as well. Thank you for sharing it so eloquently. And it’s so true that we have to be aware that we can’t just fit God into the box we want Him to fit in. That won’t work no matter how hard we try. In the end we will find that we never really knew God at all.
And it breaks my heart that so many claim to love God but don’t follow the instructions Jesus gave those who love Him (“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15)
And what makes it worse is that most of the (false) “Church” has thrown out other key verses that would help us all to find correction:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” – Colossians 3:16
“Open REBUKE is better than secret love.” – Proverbs 27:5
Because we have taken and twisted this verse to mean correction:
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” – Luke 6:37
And forgotten all about this verse:
“Judge not according to the appearance, but JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT.” – John 7:24
It’s very sad what people have tried to twist God into. But, He will not be moved and you are right that we can’t walk around with a cynical attitude. But rather pray for them and (like you have so wonderfully done in this article) try our best to correct where correction is needed.
God bless you!
Sarah
Great comment – great verses. Thank you so much!
We all sin and fall short of the Glory of God. We all fail and we all are in need of a savior. God so Loved the world that God sent God’s beloved Son. God sent himself to die for those God loves. Do not point out the splinter in your neighbors eye while ignoring the plank in yours.
We are told that we are love each other as we love ourselves.
I am sorry this came across as unloving. My intent was just the opposite. Love speaks truth, and my heart grieves for those who think that just because they call themselves Christians, they’ve never accepted Christ. This is more common than we want to believe. Many people sit in church week after week and have never asked Christ to cleanse them of their sin.
Excellent article, but I would just change the heading as it’s not a scriptural statement.
When I read that statement I though I my word what kind of dodgy theology is this?!
All christians do go to heaven. Those who truly belong to the Lord. Those who call themselves christians but don’t belong to the Lord are not really Christians. Yes they call themselves that but you cannot make that blanket statement as they never belonged to the Lord and cannot carry the name Christian.
Rather say: ‘ not all ‘so called’ Christians will go to heaven. This is just my conviction. But as I said great content.
I purposely chose to use a provocative title, mainly because so many call themselves Christians who have never had a genuine experience with Jesus Christ. I know the title is a little controversial, but I do believe more people have read it – who needed to read it – for that very reason. 🙂
I agree many “Christians” are not going to be in heaven as they are right now. But I have to hold on to the hope that God is still working/
sanctifying them. I pray that before they stand before the Great White Throne they will have matured into the likeness of Christ. God knows each persons heart. He alone knows the trajectory of their life. I’m so glad I’m not the judge because I know I would judge incorrectly.
I’ve studied the Bible for over 20 years. I still get it wrong. Thank God for His loving kindness and mercy. Thank God especially for Jesus, the only One who has ever got it right.
The plan of salvation is simple. Living it out is the hard part.
“Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 7:24b-25
Mark 16:16. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ….
Many Christians think that if you just ask Jesus into your heart you will be saved but scripture says different and I think this is satans biggest lie and will keep most “Christians” our of heaven.
Many good thoughts here, and I would like to add a another, and that is, let’s remember that the word Christian means “Christ Follower” (a thought not to be taken lightly) and it is Christ who does the saving, not the believer; when the thief on the cross beside Christ asked Jesus to remember him, Christ’s reply was the thief would be with him in paradise/heaven! That thief would never have the opportunity to be baptized, go to synagogue, or any of the Christian fellowship gatherings of the day, or do any good works. It is called GRACE, and yes, I do believe that Christ followers must search the Word of God diligently and follow God’s teachings through the prayerful guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Know not that ye shall judge angels? We can judge and admonish each other, just not in public and always in a spirit of love and understanding.
That thief? He defended Jesus from the other man on the cross making fun of Jesus for not ‘being able’ to save himself. That man may have been sentenced to death, but he had a heart that was worth saving. Hitler would not have been able to say to himself in his last 10 seconds before he killed himself, that he might as well ask Jesus to forgive him for having millions of gods people murdered.
It is not about doing Christian things. Baptism is an outward showing of faith, it is not step 2 of becoming a Christian. The Catholic church and the Pharisees were wrong about needing to congregate with other like-minded people in a building. Babies don’t go to heaven only because they were baptized with water. Jesus himself said he did not every individual on earth saved as it would fill reality with immortal monsters capable of doing the things he was capable of on earth after his resurrection but before his ascension. Matthew 11, John 6, and John 17 detail this.
Wow! What a great, solid article based upon Biblical Truth! Thank you for standing firm in what God’s Word teaches in this matter. It is heartbreaking that so many are believing a false gospel that teaches that Christianity is just possessing a head knowledge about God and who are resting in this belief for their eternal security. We live in a world where standing on the infallible, uncompromising Word of God is not popular, and one in which we are labeled as being judgmental or intolerant for preaching the God of the Bible. Thank you for writing without compromising God’s Word, and for doing so with grace.
No not everyone is going to heaven. Most will be living here on earth. Jesus stated at Matthew 5:5 that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” Psalms 37:9-11, 29 states that the wicked will be done away with and the righteous will process the earth and live forever upon it.” Revelation 21:1-4 states that mourning, outcry, pain and death will be no more and God will be with mankind to shower his blessings upon them through his kingdom. This is why Jesus taught us to pray for God’s Kingdom to come, for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. All of obedient mankind’s problems as a result of Adam bringing sin and death upon the human race will be done away with.
Very powerful!! Thank you so much for standing on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. I’ve read each replies, not all Christians will be going to heaven, remember the word of God declares that we all have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,. Once you’ve accepted Christ you have work to do like study to show yourself approved unto God, you have to memorized the word so you can hide it in your heart so we don’t sin against Him God there’s so much to been a Christian, we don’t just say we are save and sit down and go to heaven no no. .. Should Jesus best the cross alone and all the world go free? No!!! Take a look at the life of Jesus Hr was the son of God,He did His father’s will,He ministered to many lives and they were delivered and set free.He says to many go and sin no more. … (Great article)… Hope my comment makes some sense.
I kind of wish this article had not appeared in my Pinterest feed. The title is misleading (and false). The Bible says that whomever confesses with his/her mouth and believes in his/her heart that Jesus is Lord shall be saved. That’s it. There are not a ton of rules that come after that. Now obviously, it is optimal that we reflect Christ and surely our connection to Him should result in fruit in our lives. But this article comes off as judgy and preachy. Maybe to be fair, you should write another one about all of the “conservative Christians” that talk the talk but don’t walk the walk, you know the ones that claim to hate abortion, but have no problem with school shootings, discrimination, and judge people that use social welfare (the very mothers that didn’t abort their babies).
I am so sorry that this post bothered you. It certainly wasn’t my intention. When I wrote the post 2 1/2 years ago, I knew the title would be provocative, but I had hoped that it would intrigue people enough to read it and understand the message that belief and acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is what is required for heaven, not just calling ourselves Christian.
But the truth is, if the title distracts from the content, then the point is being lost. The post will go out tomorrow with a new title that I hope more accurately conveys what I had hoped to share.
I am so sorry that this post bothered you. It certainly wasn’t my intention. When I wrote the post 2 1/2 years ago, I knew the title would be provocative, but I had hoped that it would intrigue people enough to read it and understand the message that belief and acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is what is required for heaven, not just calling ourselves Christian.
But the truth is, if the title distracts from the content, then the point is being lost. The post will go out tomorrow with a new title that I hope more accurately conveys what I had hoped to share.
Acts 2:38 Peter commands us to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins; and you shall receive the Holy Spirit.
Also in Hebrews 10:26 we are told if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
Your article and your reference are right on.
If we are going to believe and live the Word, we can’t pick and choose which parts we think are truth. God bless you.
I couldn’t agree with you more! I was just talking about this the other day. In fact I wrote post earlier about how Christians are so quick to doubt miracle like that movie Breakthrough that is about to come to theaters. That happened about 30 minutes from where I live. It was all over our local news (which was surprising to be honest).
I personally don’t understand how you can be a Christian and not believe everything the Bible says. ?
Jesus says you’ll know them by their fruit. A good tree can only produce good fruit. A bad tree can only produce bad fruit.
For a long time I was good friends with a woman who claimed to be Christian but had bad fruit. (Gossip, cussing, borrowing and never returning things which is stealing, etc)
I kept overlooking it. Then I met my now husband and he kept telling me what I couldn’t see. That this person was pulling down my walk with the lord.
I had a serious conversation with her in which she told me she didn’t believe that The Bible was what you should base your life and decisions on. She also told me she’d been purposefully trying to drag me away from God!
Shortly after that she ended the relationship abruptly when I married my husband. I now know she was sent by Satan to pull me away from God and it worked for a long time.
My husband also had a similar relationship with a step brother who he kept trying to witness to but who was constantly trying to pull him away from the Lord.
The Lord ended that relationship.
Neither of us had any culpability so we have no guilt.
Jesus told a parable of tares and wheat. He said both grew up together until the harvest. Tares are a type of weed that looks just like wheat – until it’s old enough to be beating fruit (seeds). At which point the wheat bears seeds but the tares di not.
Any tree that doesn’t bear fruit, Jesus saud, is cut down and burned. He also cursed a fig tree for having no fruit.
If you have no fruit in your life – no real desire to be like Christ, no laying down of your own desires and sins, no Holy Spirit telling you these things are wrong, if you look exactly like the world – I beg of you to re-examine your walk with God. Without fruit, the Bible says, you ARE NOT SAVED.
Repent repent repent! Jesus is coming soon!
Good works doesn’t earn one Salvation in God’s sight, except for faith in the sacrifice of His Son and His blood.
God has principles and instructions to be obeyed.
Anything less doesn’t sum up.
This piece speaks volumes.
Amen! The blood of Jesus is enough. We do good things out of love, honor, respect and gratefulness for all that God has done for us – and out of an obedient heart. But these good things do NOT earn us salvation!
Well written Rosilind! I hardly ever comment on posts, but I was just so encouraged by your perspective and your courage to write this piece. A timely warning in these last days. We need to get the TRUE Gospel out in any way we can. God bless.
Thank you very much for your comment. I agree – we need to spread the TRUE gospel – there is so much false teaching today!
I read this blog post a week or so ago and it has been bothering me ever since. Thank you for this comment Stephanie. This is what I believe. There’s nothing I can do to earn God’s grace, and I will fail countless times everyday of my life. Jesus’ sacrifice was the perfect sacrifice and it paid the price for me. ME. And anyone else who believes this and asks for it.
I’ve read this post a couple times, and while I hope the author had the correct intentions, getting people to focus on their salvation and not being a fair-weather Christian, I think the angle should have been something entirely different. The title, the Pin image, it’s all meant to shock and deceive, and I wish another approach had been taken. I’ts bothered me for days.
Just because you sit in McDonald’s doesn’t make you a French fry!
Likewise, going to church and identifying as a Christian doesn’t make you a
Christian.!!! The proof of a changed heart is a changed life, or as the Bible calls it, fruit.
So you are saying just because i support LGBT, I’m not going to heaven, I guess that means that something is wrong with me..I am sorry, i don’t know what to do.
You can look at a car and see it’s a car. If it quacks like a duck……… A person who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit acts and behaves in a certain way and certainly wouldn’t condone abortion and same sex marriage. It’s not about works, it’s all about being who you are. Dogs bark cats meow and Christians vote Republican. : )
What’s amazing here in your sanctimonious article proclaiming “liberal Christians” are not “true Christians”, as though you, without question or self-reflection, are. The entire article is a self-righteous display of pharisaic hubris, combining cherry-picked biblical scripture, with your own political/personal theology and twisted evangelical Christian ideology. As a previous commenter stated, combining political & social views with Christianity (Or your interpretation of) is dangerous. Demonizing liberal Christians by suggesting those millions of people are not “true Christians”, but of course YOU are, seems very sub-Christian to me. Sowing discord, causing divisions and creating obstacles to unity, brotherhood and the love that every Christian has been clearly commanded to show all, as Jesus Christ has shown us. (1 John 4:11)
There is an intense level of hubris and lack of self-reflection that goes hand in hand with the type of arrogance that emboldens someone to claims others will not make it through the narrow gates of heaven, without including yourself in the mix. Bring liberal or conservative is both trivial and irrelevant in the eyes of the lord. Treating the LGBTQ community with respect, and not standing in the way of insuring they have equal rights resemble far closer to an act of Jesus Christ, which Christians are supposed to walk in his footsteps and emulate him. Loving thy neighbor, loving thy enemy, and showing empathy for the position of “the other” are what Jesus Christ teaches his people. Not oppression. Christians should use the hammer of prayer far more than the hammer of political power and control. Having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is just that, personal. Using government to force beliefs & ideology on the rest of society using Christianity is not having a personal relationship. Its quite the opposite. What they are seemed far closer to acts of supersessionist, messianist, and/or zionists.