How do you get into heaven?

[sierra21]

Ok, it's my understanding that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and understand that he gave up his life for us, then you are going to heaven. Because recently I was told that if you're committing a sin (like fornication or lying, for example) and the rapture occurs, you will not go to heaven. Is there any truth to this? I'm so confused!

[darski]

Because recently I was told that if you're committing a sin (like fornication or lying, for example) and the rapture occurs, you will not go to heaven. Is there any truth to this? I'm so confused!

There is no truth to what you have been told. Once saved; always saved. EOD!

[Guest LadyC]

once saved, you can still choose to reject the gift of salvation. obviously i'm not a subscriber to the OSAS doctrine. BUT, i agree with darski, there is no truth in that. we're all as filthy as rags in the eyes of God, no matter if we're sinning when the rapture occurs or not. those who miss the rapture are the ones who have abandoned their faith in God... those who have rejected the gift of eternal life, whether they rejected it from day one or whether they rejected it at some point after accepting it. this isn't something that happens by accident or without our awareness, because only we can become apostate by an act of our own choice.

[kittyjo]

I agree with LadyC, but I just wanted to add a little something elementary for the newbies out there... When we accept Christ into our hearts we are also commiting to a relationship, a personal one on one relationship with God. This relationship requires effort and responsibilities on our part inorder to grow and experience all the joy God's plan has for us. It also reminds me of the many sermons on being a 'lukewarm Christian'... When Christ comes back for His bride do we want to be found a cold non-participant; a lukewarm part-time participant or do we want to be found 'on fire' for Christ, an active participant in our relationship? This is something we must all ask ourselves. To grow closer to God we first must seek His will; through prayer; asking for forgiveness; reading His Word; fellowship with other Christians etc... This relationship takes effort but the rewards are glorious!

Hot, Cold or Lukewarm?

Edited July 12, 2006 by kittyjo

[Leonard]

Wow!! That sure beats my plan! I figured on Judgment Day, I was just going to hide behind someone who had always been a 'good doobie' and when the gate to Heaven swung open for him, I WAS GOING TO RUN FOR IT!!!!

[Smalcald]

The question of course is can repentance be planned? Can I grab hold of sin, can I plan on sinning and enjoy it, relying on the knowledge that I am always saved and can repent later? Is this salvation, is this faith? If the rapture comes when I am in that state of mind, do I even have faith? If as a Christian I know that living with my girlfriend is sin is fornication but I refuse to repent and change, am I saved when Christ returns?

How about gay's who claim they are believers. Let us say the rapture comes and they are in a gay sexual relationship, even knowing it is wrong, they are relying on the grace of God to save them, they can repent later, are they saved at that point?

As Paul says, to whom we present ourselves to slaves to obey, we are slaves of that thing. If we present ourselves as slaves of sin what are we? Of course we will all sin right up to the point of the return of Christ, but the question is to whom do we belong?

[Guest little comer]

once saved, you can still choose to reject the gift of salvation. obviously i'm not a subscriber to the OSAS doctrine. BUT, i agree with darski, there is no truth in that. we're all as filthy as rags in the eyes of God, no matter if we're sinning when the rapture occurs or not. those who miss the rapture are the ones who have abandoned their faith in God... those who have rejected the gift of eternal life, whether they rejected it from day one or whether they rejected it at some point after accepting it. this isn't something that happens by accident or without our awareness, because only we can become apostate by an act of our own choice.

once youre saved, you CAN NOT reject your salvation. it goes against everything the Bible teaches. there is no possible way to lose your salvation after you recieve it. the Bible says that no one can pluck you out of Gods hand, and that includes yourself.

[whiteeagele0]

You Get to heaven by accepting JESUS CHRIST as YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR

[Smalcald]

2peter to start.

20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"[f]and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

Do we need to continue?

[Smalcald]

Of course I also agree with you all, God will lose none that are His, if you have faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will be saved.