Heaven <> Hell

[other one]

Quote

 

Matt 25:31-46

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  36  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'  37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'  40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'  44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'  45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'  46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
ESV

 

 

Over my 77 years I have been to many different denominations looking for that church that preached the whole Bible and did not add things or make things up.  Over the years I looked into some writings outside scripture and agonized over what might be so and what might not.

During this time as I listened to different opinions, and especially here, as to what would and would not send us to heaven or hell (even though there are disagreements on where those two are and even exist).   I hear folks focusing on the ten commandments as to what not to do to please God.   Then I read this scripture in Matthew where Jesus is sending people to hell for what they did not do.

I personally think that the secret to getting to heaven is to focus on what Jesus told us to do instead of what not to do.

Odd thing is if we do what he asks, we really won't do those things he told Israel in Moses days not to do, actually we will not even want to.

It is a lot more complicated than following old laws.  We must follow his two commandments to please him, among other things.  As we study, we need to focus on what he wants us to do, not what we think he wants us not to do.

[Stewardofthemystery]

Luke 6:46

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

[NConly]

John 3

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 6

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

[Sower]

2 hours ago, other one said:

As we study, we need to focus on what he wants us to do, not what we think he wants us not to do.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says"   NIV

    "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"   KJV

                          For we are his workmanship,

                  created in Christ Jesus for good works,

                      which God prepared beforehand,

                       that we should walk in them. 
                                 Ephesians 2:10

Thanks

 

[FreeGrace]

6 hours ago, other one said:

Over my 77 years I have been to many different denominations looking for that church that preached the whole Bible and did not add things or make things up.  Over the years I looked into some writings outside scripture and agonized over what might be so and what might not.

I personally think that the secret to getting to heaven is to focus on what Jesus told us to do instead of what not to do.

It is a lot more complicated than following old laws.  We must follow his two commandments to please him, among other things.  As we study, we need to focus on what he wants us to do, not what we think he wants us not to do.

Rather than looking to "many different denominations" and "churches" for the way to "get to heaven", let's examine what Scripture says about it.  

And it isn't complicated at all.  The Bible is very clear.  Jesus never said that"following His 2 commandments to please Him" will result in getting into heaven.  

This is what He did say about salvation and having eternal life, which are two ways that are about what one needs to get into heaven.

John 3:15 - that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”  16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 5:24 - “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”   v.47 - Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.

John 10:28 - I give them (believers, from Jn 5:24) eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Rom 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 5:13 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Believing is synonymous with trusting.  Man has to trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for salvation.  And trust that He will give eternal life to all who have trusted in Him.

[Sower]

8 minutes ago, FreeGrace said:

And it isn't complicated at all.  The Bible is very clear.  Jesus never said that"following His 2 commandments to please Him" will result in getting into heaven.  

This is what He did say about salvation and having eternal life, which are two ways that are about what one needs to get into heaven.

 

                   "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,

       and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,

                                          thou shalt be saved"

                      No, not complicated to be saved. But then what?

6 hours ago, other one said:

  I hear folks focusing on the ten commandments as to what not to do to please God.  

  We all know within us what we should be doing. As born again believers, the spirit prompts.
  Do we grieve the spirit? Do we quench the spirit? Or do we listen?
  It's written in our hearts what to do. It's as they say, let go, and let God.   Through us, work.

Abide in the vine, Jesus, and He will work through us, as without Him we can do nothing.
This bears much fruit, His fruit, that we can only bear. To make seen for others, not self.

That still small voice requires only to respond without hesitation.

The tiniest obedience is the Will of God!

Much fruit glorifies the Father.  Much fruit pleases the Father.

[other one]

25 minutes ago, FreeGrace said:

And it isn't complicated at all.  The Bible is very clear.  Jesus never said that"following His 2 commandments to please Him" will result in getting into heaven.  

Declaring publically he is your Lord is part of salvation, and if he is your Lord, you will do what he says....   And he gave us two commandments, and those people who he is sending to hell did not follow his second commandment in loving others.   Those people who didn't do what he said is going to hell and those who did are to be with him.   If that's not pleasing to him, I can't imagine what would.

[Mr. M]

14 minutes ago, other one said:

Declaring publically he is your Lord is part of salvation, and if he is your Lord, you will do what he says....   And he gave us two commandments, and those people who he is sending to hell did not follow his second commandment in loving others.   Those people who didn't do what he said is going to hell and those who did are to be with him.   If that's not pleasing to him, I can't imagine what would.

James 2:

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 

9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 

11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” 

Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder,

you have become a transgressor of the law. 

12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 

13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. 

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

 

Why must we perfect impartiality in defining "love thy neighbor?

Impartiality is the cornerstone of sound judgment!

1 Corinthians 6:

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another,

go to law before the unrighteous,

and not before the saints? 

2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

And if the world will be judged by you,

are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 

3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?

How much more, things that pertain to this life? 

4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life,

do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 

5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you,

not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 

6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

I do not know where Christ will draw the line in this debate over

"heaven or hell", what a do know is that the emphasis in the apostolic

doctrine is the Resurrection and the Day of Judgment.

The Lord made this clear:

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.

Therefore:

12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 

13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. 

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Love your neighbor cannot be a vague and subject to opinion:

Luke 10:

36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

[FreeGrace]

1 hour ago, Sower said:

                   "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,

       and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,

                                          thou shalt be saved"

                      No, not complicated to be saved. But then what?

  We all know within us what we should be doing. As born again believers, the spirit prompts.
  Do we grieve the spirit? Do we quench the spirit? Or do we listen?

Exactly!  And the only way to not grieve/quench the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit, which is a direct command to all believers.  Eph 5:18

So, the question is:  specifically, how does one obey that command?  What needs to be done?  I've heard pastors say to "yield" or "submit".  All well and good, but exactly how does one do that, or even know they are doing that?

1 hour ago, Sower said:

  It's written in our hearts what to do. It's as they say, let go, and let God.   Through us, work.

Abide in the vine, Jesus, and He will work through us, as without Him we can do nothing.
This bears much fruit, His fruit, that we can only bear. To make seen for others, not self.

That still small voice requires only to respond without hesitation.

The tiniest obedience is the Will of God!

Much fruit glorifies the Father.  Much fruit pleases the Father.

Amen!

[Mr. M]

9 minutes ago, FreeGrace said:

 Eph 5:18

So, the question is:  specifically, how does one obey that command?  What needs to be done?  I've heard pastors say to "yield" or "submit".  All well and good, but exactly how does one do that, or even know they are doing that?

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.