Q&A: Can Bitterness Keep Me Out of Heaven?

[Hopefully]

1 minute ago, Sower said:

Good luck with keeping the law.

“So do we destroy the law by following the way of faith? Not at all! In fact, faith causes us to be what the law actually wants.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:31‬ ‭

“Surely you know that people who do wrong will not get to enjoy God’s kingdom.

Don’t be fooled. These are the people who will not get to enjoy his kingdom: those who sin sexually, those who worship idols, those who commit adultery, men who let other men use them for sex or who have sex with other men, those who steal, those who are greedy, those who drink too much, those who abuse others with insults, and those who cheat.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭

 

[Hopefully]

Has anyone ever heard cardi b’s song WAP? If not search the lyrics. When this song went #1 she thanked God for it, as many celebrities doing things God does not approve of do.

Since she thanked God we can assume she “believes” in God. If she sees no reason to change the messages she puts out is she ok since she “believes” in God?

Faith without works is truly dead. 

[Leonardo Von]

Yes.

Heb 6:7,8 -> "For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.".

Heb 12:15 -> "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;".

 

Remember that Noah was saved from the deluge because he was able to find a place for the Creator's grace in his heart (Gen 6:8).

[Close_to_Jesus]

Thank you guys for the amazing responses.

Here's how I feel about going to heaven and bitterness.  You are right, the Bible does say that unbelief can keep us out of heaven; however, the issue with bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness is a defiling spirit (Heb 12:15).  It spreads in our heart and will interfere with our relationship with God.  God can't reside in a heart full of bitterness.  Eventually, it draws us away from him.  I know, when I suffered from very bad bitterness, I turned away from God for many years.  If I died during that time, I can't say I believe I would have gone to heaven.  I'd never declare that over anyone else but me; however, I don't want to see anyone take that risk.  At the very least, it robs us of our joy, hope, closeness with God, etc.

As far as forgiving terrible acts.  No one expects someone to be able to instantly forgive; however, remember that forgiveness is for US.  Holding on to unforgiveness opens the door to the enemy and keeps us in a place where we can't operate in the full grace of God.  We need release that pain and unforgiveness to God with His help.  We can't do it on our own, but with Christ, all things are possible.  God does not want us walking around with hate in our hearts. He is our vindicator, and He will be the judge over the person who hurt us.  Amen?   

[Marathoner]

Some underestimate the Lord, who declares the end from the beginning. There's a persistent belief that both the will and agency of men triumph over the purpose of God, but scripture testifies otherwise. He who began that work in you is faithful to finish that work; all things work together for the good of those who love Him.

What the wicked intend for evil, the Almighty purposes for good. Seeing as how faith is the gift of God and nothing is hidden from His sight, those who insist that man is greater than his Creator --- the clay dictates to the Potter! --- operate from the blindness and ignorance of this flesh. The natural man cannot grasp matters of spirit, my friends. Unless the Lord sees fit to reveal His hidden counsel, who can know it? 

But the passage of time, which we are incapable of comprehending because we don't know as we ought to know, reveals the hidden purpose of God. Many of us have fallen into dark times before (or this has yet to come), but the fruit of the trial is produced at the proper time in its season. The flesh wails because of tribulation, but what does the apostle declare?

It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God. So, dark times... suffering and hardship... and tribulation, are all part of our sojourn in this world. Accompanying the belief that the creation dictates to the Creator is a stubborn insistence that whenever such things befall one whose life is hidden in Jesus Christ, it's due to sin on their part. That's the error of Job's friends. We ought to learn from their example.

No one knows the hidden counsel of God unless He is pleased to reveal this to His servants. Are we condemned because our frame is dust, and we struggle against this flesh? We are not drawn to the Son of God so we will "go to heaven." Salvation is not insurance against the flames. That's the wisdom of men which says, "don't do this if you want to go to heaven!"

The Lord displays His power in us. It is His good pleasure to raise us up so all will be subjected to God the Father in the end. We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, not penitent sinners doing our best to avoid the lake of fire. 

Edited July 28, 2022 by Marathoner
Typo

[existential mabel]

@Alive

thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Romans, is such a reassuring verse, it reminds me that i am safe in God because i Love him and that i believe and trust in his finished work on the cross at Calvary, His Blood Atonement.

and Genesis is good for illustrating the working out of bitterness and Joseph had much to be bitter about.

i am reminded of;
Jer29: 11 ^AKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Philippians 1:6; ^AKJV being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

many thanks, i will keep these scriptures in my thoughts and continue to consider them

 

[Alive]

15 minutes ago, existential mabel said:

@Alive

thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Romans, is such a reassuring verse, it reminds me that i am safe in God because i Love him and that i believe and trust in his finished work on the cross at Calvary, His Blood Atonement.

and Genesis is good for illustrating the working out of bitterness and Joseph had much to be bitter about.

i am reminded of;
Jer29: 11 ^AKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Philippians 1:6; ^AKJV being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

many thanks, i will keep these scriptures in my thoughts and continue to consider them

 

Amen, sister. Isn't He wonderful? He is alive and alive in our lives. He is indeed the Great Shepherd.

I am so very glad that you are in His hands.

[existential mabel]

@Alive

indeed i am so blessed that i am indeed in His hands. its taken a long journey. but it accelerated through the lock down.

Edited July 28, 2022 by existential mabel

[Alive]

2 minutes ago, existential mabel said:

@Alive

indeed i am so blessed that i am indeed in His hands. its taken a long journey. but it accelerated through the lock down.

I suspect it is the same for many of us.

We are all of us in the same boat and that boat is Christ protecting us from the storms.

[existential mabel]

@Aliveyes in regards to the accelerated progress...right at the start of this pandemic. i had a very strong sense that this was a time of choosing between God and the World. and took the time to seriously knuckle down

Edited July 28, 2022 by existential mabel