Thread: What are the Requirements for Admission to Heaven?

depends on how serious you are about it. if you are just like well i accept Jesus as my lord and savior and that is it, nothing else and you don't even mean it then no, it doesn't work that way. When someone truely accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they believe without a shadow of a doubt that jesus died on the cross for thei sins and then rose again. They believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is their creator. They want to turn from their sins and they are sincere about it. they want to grow closer to God and have a closer relationship with him.

Now do people fall away from God, yes they do, can they come back to God, yes they can. People do backslide, i have at times but once God is my father, he will always be my father (heavenly father that is).
I have to be going soon and this is an answer in a nut shell but if you would like me to get deeper into it i will later.

So basically, my teacher was right, all you need to do is sincerely repent for your sins and accept God and Jesus? Let me present you with a scenario.
There are two people on their deathbed, person A and person B.

A) Person A is a man who was born into relative poverty. He overcame his background and ended up running a succesful business, with the money he earnt from his business he was able to stop working and allow the business to run itslef. From this point onwards he became a notable philanthropist, donating money to numerous good causes. Here's the downside, he is also an outspoken critic of religion and an ideologically commited atheist. He has also in his life, experimented with psychdelic drugs and he likes to get drunk at the weekends. He has rarely, been cruel or harmful to others, however, he has never repented for his fondness for alcoholic beverages and the odd tab of LSD as he doesn't see them as sins and doesn't believe in God.


B) Person B was a for many years an unbeleiver. He was a convicted serial rapist and peadophile. He was sentenced to a lengthy prison term. A couple of years prior to the date that he was diagnosed with cancer, he found God. He repented for his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour. Since this point he has led a sinless life, trying to give back to the community from which he took so much, unfortnately he has little give. Throughout the large majority of his life has has been a cruel, evil man, with little regard for others. Notice, however, that he has not commited the only unforgiveable sin in the Bible, which is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.

Which of these two men, will go to Heaven?

Neither.

The bible says that the only unforgiveable sin is to blaspheme against the holy spirit. This person has repented and has accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour. Thus his sins will be forgiving. What, that you can find in the Bible, and not some doctrine written over a thousand years later, is preventing him from entering the Kingdom of God?

I don't understand it either. Could it be that you said Neither just because you don't want paedophiles and Hitler in heaven?

Everyone's fate is ultimately the same. I don't get into Heaven no more than you do. Not even one of the most righteous men, who was John The Baptist, gets to go to Heaven. There's only a select few who has allowance into Heaven. The rest of us will inherit the Earth.

Originally Posted by imran_p

A question that I've been pondering for a while now. What does the Bible say you need to do in order to go to heaven? I was told in high school, that in order to go to heaven, all a person had to do was accept god as their creator and Jesus Christ as their saviour, and this alone would guarantee entry to heaven.

Is this true?

Yes it is (provided one has true devotion), but what does it actually mean to accept God as your Creator and/or Jesus as your Savior?

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

Everyone's fate is ultimately the same. I don't get into Heaven no more than you do. Not even one of the most righteous men, who was John The Baptist, gets to go to Heaven. There's only a select few who has allowance into Heaven. The rest of us will inherit the Earth.

Jehovah's Witnesses ?

No. I don't lay claim to any denomination. I just seek for what is truth.

You see, it depends on your religion.

If you are a sikh, you are screwed unless you find (forgot the word for it) neutral karma or some shit like that.

If the sikh religion is true, and you are a Christian, you are fucking screwed. If you are a sikh, and ANY other religion is true (pretty much), then you will get into heaven no matter what. So being a sikh is a win win situation.

Originally Posted by Ne-yo

No. I don't lay claim to any denomination. I just seek for what is truth.

So you believe that only 144,000 will go to heaven?

(Ephesians 1:13–14)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

If the Bible really is "the Truth" then fewer than one sixth of the world population can be construed as eligible for heaven. In other words, five-sixths of all those alive today will burn in hell. Because let's be honest here. Almost everyone has committed a "sin" that the book claims will condemn you for eternity.

Thank goodness the bible's bullshit.

If it turns out to be true don't we all just get to choose in the end? And satan and the false prophet are the only ones swimming in burning sulfur...

Threating your subjects with eternal suffering because they like fucking other men is not my idea of a "choice."

Screw heaven, I want in Mount Olympia.

Where art thou, Aphrodite?

Well, if the Bible is your reference, then here are some good verses.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
—John 1:12
John 3:16-17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
—John 3:16-17
John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
—John 14:6
Acts 13:38-39

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
—Acts 13:38-39
Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
—Romans 1:16
Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
—Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 6:23
Romans 10:9-13

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
—Romans 10:9-13
2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 1:13-14

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
—Ephesians 1:13-14
Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
—Philippians 2:12
Colossians 2:13-14

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
—Colossians 2:13-14
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
—1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
—Titus 2:11-14
1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
—1 Peter 1:8-9

from scripturemenu.com

Meh, I wanna be a ghost. That would be completely awesome. Plus, it wouldn't bore me completely, because anytime I pined for a negative experience, I could just pop off and haunt some poor, impoverished family for a while. That ought to demolish my faith in humanity sufficiently...

Meh, still think the whole "nothing" theory holds the most water, but I sincerely hope I'm mistaken.

Originally Posted by grasshoppa

Screw heaven, I want in Mount Olympia.

Where art thou, Aphrodite?

I choose this as well, thanks for asking.

Hey Imran, thanks for asking a good question. Good deeds are not what get you into heaven, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior and God as your creator and turning from sin is.

the first man would not go to heaven due to the fact that he doesn't believe.
The second man would, even though he was SSSSSOOOOOOOO evil, he did in fact accept Jesus and God and sincerely turned from his sins.

You see no matter how much community service you do, or how much money you donate or how many lives you save etc.... thos are good intentions and the road to hell is lined with good intentions

With all due respect to other religions and beliefs, this is what I believe. I know other religions say other things and other people believe other things.

Originally Posted by davej

Hey Imran, thanks for asking a good question. Good deeds are not what get you into heaven, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior and God as your creator and turning from sin is.

the first man would not go to heaven due to the fact that he doesn't believe.
The second man would, even though he was SSSSSOOOOOOOO evil, he did in fact accept Jesus and God and sincerely turned from his sins.

You see no matter how much community service you do, or how much money you donate or how many lives you save etc.... thos are good intentions and the road to hell is lined with good intentions

With all due respect to other religions and beliefs, this is what I believe. I know other religions say other things and other people believe other things.

Don't you think that's a bit hypocritical? I mean, to say if you accept Jesus, etc, is all that matters, and all else is mere fluff, seems to kinda go against Xtianity as I know it. Like, is it okay to go against the 10 commandments, and start raping and killing people, as long as you accept Jesus? Sounds kinda ridiculous to me...

Don't you think that's a bit hypocritical? I mean, to say if you accept Jesus, etc, is all that matters, and all else is mere fluff, seems to kinda go against Xtianity as I know it. Like, is it okay to go against the 10 commandments, and start raping and killing people, as long as you accept Jesus? Sounds kinda ridiculous to me...

Good point.

Also another way of seeing it is that you have this god who puts his own selfish recognition before, as Mario said, the commandments. Not to mention good people and so forth. Or maybe another way of putting it would be, why should accepting Jesus and god be the only way for god to see through your sins? I mean if you have to be judged, atleast one could hope that it would be due to other reasons other than a narrowminded vision of "well, did you accept me?"

Like, is it okay to go against the 10 commandments, and start raping and killing people, as long as you accept Jesus? Sounds kinda ridiculous to me...

AAAHHHH very good question Mario... Thanks!

The answer from my view point is that being saved is not a get out of hell free card as someone else posted. I like that phrase by the way... When you are truely saved you have a desire and a want to turn from your sins and start living for God. Anyone can say ooohh i accept Jesus as my lord and savior and now i'm going to go have massive orgies get high on all sorts of dope and top it off with mass murder. It doesn't work that way. you aren't truely saved if the only reason you get saved is to be able to do what you want and get away with it.
On that note, all Christians slip up I have, i'm not perfect at all but I am sincere in asking for forgiveness I was sincere when I became a Christian and Jesus did wash away my sins.
For example, early on in my Christian growth, I went out with some old college friends that were in town for a few days. We went to a locla bar to hear some live music and i decided to get a beer. 1 beer what would it hurt. Nothing really, i'm not indulging in it. well my buddies and i begin to have a good time and 1 beer lead to another and so on. I felt extremely convicted over this and prayed for forgiveness and I was forgiven and I turned away from drinking.

Originally Posted by kingerman

So you believe that only 144,000 will go to heaven?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Kingerman

(Ephesians 1:13–14)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

That doesn't get me or you into heaven. Be righteous and inherit the Earth once you're resurrected.

Originally Posted by davej

Hey Imran, thanks for asking a good question. Good deeds are not what get you into heaven, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior and God as your creator and turning from sin is.

the first man would not go to heaven due to the fact that he doesn't believe.
The second man would, even though he was SSSSSOOOOOOOO evil, he did in fact accept Jesus and God and sincerely turned from his sins.

You see no matter how much community service you do, or how much money you donate or how many lives you save etc.... thos are good intentions and the road to hell is lined with good intentions

With all due respect to other religions and beliefs, this is what I believe. I know other religions say other things and other people believe other things.

Sorry mate, but it seems to me that your interpretation of your religion and "The Entry Process to Heaven," which seems to be the mainstream one is extremely disturbing. A mass murdering genoicdial prick can go to heaven as long as he loves God and accepts Jesus, but a loving, caring man, who donates his life to helping others burns in eternal fire. That is utterly disgusting, what sort of capricious narcissistic God values worship and acceptance over a virtuous, righteous life? It appears that your God is an absolute tosser. And if he really did exist I wouldn't hesitate to spit in his eyeball.