For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s an old story but it still proves a point. A pastor midway through his sermon asked the question on a warm Sunday morning, “How many of you want to go to heaven when you die?” Everyone raised his hand except one man, obviously asleep. Focusing on the sleeping man, the pastor loudly asked, “How many of you want to go to hell when you die?”
Sensing the change of tone in his voice, the man abruptly awoke, stood to his feet, looked around sheepishly and said, “Pastor, I don’t know what I’m standing for; but it looks like you and me are the only ones for it!”
The fact remains, very few don’t want to go to heaven when they die, but how you get there seems to be a trade secret which is the property of a few who are either afraid to let it out, or too embarrassed to share that truth with family and friends.
Do you know how to get there? If you died and stood at the door of God’s heaven, and Peter opened the door, and said, “Why should I let you in?” What would you say?
Suppose you replied, “Because I’ve been a pretty good person. I’m not perfect, of course, but I’m a whole lot better than most people. Besides, I’ve given quite a lot of money to charity.” What you’ve said may be completely true, but would that open the door?
Not according to what the Bible says. Here’s what it says: “But when the time came for the kindness and love of God our Savior to appear, then he saved us–not because we were good enough to be saved, but because of his kindness and pity–by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit whom he poured out upon us with wonderful fullness–and all because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did so that he could declare us good in God’s eyes…” (Titus 3:4-6, Living Bible).
The Bible says that entrance to heaven isn’t based on what you do–either good or evil–it is based upon what Jesus Christ did. The Bible describes this as a gift which is given to those who believe. “The gift of God” is how Paul described it in Ephesians 2:8, and then he said it is received “not by works, so that no one can boast.”
In two minutes, however, I can tell you what you need to do to receive this gift which opens heaven’s door. Three simple steps are necessary. Step #1: You must acknowledge your personal need of salvation. The Bible categorically says that all have sinned—everybody, no exceptions (See Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6). Do you admit that? Then go on to step #2 which is to believe that God will save you. The Bible puts is like this: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
The third step means that you go public with your commitment of faith. You run up your flag and commit yourself. Here’s the text: “That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Your intelligence, your money, your goodness, or your gifts will never open the door of heaven when you die; but what Jesus did unlocks the door. No wonder He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And what He said hasn’t changed.
If I only believe that Jesus died for me, and accept Him as my Lord, then I’m saved? Don’t I have to “do” something more?
This question reflects our desire to be in control. We want to be in charge of our life, including our eternal destiny. All man-made religions play into this. They all provide some method for man to enter heaven by doing something. Christianity, on the other hand, requires that man accept what Christ has already done for him. Instead of man climbing his way up to God, God is reaching down to man.
The reason man-made religions cannot provide salvation is because they all ignore the issue of man’s sin, which separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2). As long as our sin remains, we can never join God in heaven. Once our sin is removed, we are free to enjoy the same relationship with God that Adam and Eve enjoyed before they sinned. Thankfully, it’s not a matter becoming good enough to enter heaven. We’d never make it. God’s standard is perfection (Matthew 5:48).
The sad truth is that we all have lied, stolen, and cheated. That makes us liars and thieves, and cheaters—a far cry from the holiness God requires. Hopefully, this helps us to see that we have absolutely nothing to offer. If we’re going to get to heaven, it’s all up to God.
The only passage in the Bible that in any way points to something we must “do” is found in the book of John:
"But to all who would receive Him, He gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust Him to save them." (John 1:12, The Living Bible, Paraphrased)
This verse tells us that a person becomes a child of God (and therefore, will be with God in heaven) by accepting (welcoming) Jesus into his heart and life as Lord and Savior. To “receive” Christ, however, is more than simply acknowledging who Jesus is (the Son of God). It’s a matter of trust—trusting in Christ alone for our salvation. Once again, it’s a matter of acknowledging that Christ already did everything that needed to be done to get us to heaven.
To attempt to add something to what Christ has already done is to claim that Christ’s death was insufficient. Who are we to think that we could possibly add anything to Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf? The thief on the cross (Luke 23:32-43) didn’t have an opportunity to do a single thing (including being baptized), yet Jesus said, “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Consider what the following verses say about this:
"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." (John 6:47)
The last verse says it all. At the moment we believe, we are saved. Once again, to believe is to trust in Christ alone for our salvation, not just to believe some facts. It is a matter of accepting the Gospel and applying its benefit to our lives. So just what is the =Gospel? The apostle Paul condenses it for us:
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Salvation is a gift, and gifts are free. Contributing anything to our salvation is like offering a dollar bill to someone who has just given us the keys to a new Rolls Royce. Here’s the hard part. We must be willing to get off the throne and let Him be Lord of our life. When we do, we exchange our sin for the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). I’d say that’s a pretty good deal.
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