No one can enter Heaven by doing "good" things, observing rituals, turning a new leaf, etc. ALL fall short of God's perfect standard ( Romans 3:23). No one qualifies, for all have sin. We make none of the provision, redemption is made possible utterly through the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ alone. He's the only sinless one qualified to be the acceptable substitute on our behalf. He offers this rescue as a FREE GIFT to all who will receive it by simply -believing-, placing one's complete trust/faith on Christ and His finished works alone (not on 'self' but on God in flesh who died and arose for ALL sin), period.
What prevents one from receiving the gift is either a flat rejection in unbelief, or by adding to simple faith one's own merit or supposed "good works" (deeds, performance or reform), which scripture explicitly refutes ( Titus 3:5-6). God's way for redemption is so simple, a person's pride or fears often won't allow them to accept that God's redemption is really that complete and free.
Yes, God desires practical righteousness of His children, after being saved; however, one must realize, this is a completely separate issue from that which gets a person to Heaven. We can't bribe God; none will boast in Heaven over their entrance because they did this and stopped that, persevered, or performed religious acts etc. Some of the saved will go onto maturity, in varying degrees, and some will unfortunately not. There's blessing and rewards based on performance and obedience, but holds absolutely no determining factor for getting into Heaven. Some will be left standing at the Bema judgment empty handed but still enter in because Christ paid it all, and they received it... Meanwhile, there's those who plead their many wonderful works done in the name of Christ at the Great White Throne judgement and end up in Hell. The object in which one places their faith is what makes the difference. Christ alone?.. or Him plus your supposed merit and bribes?
Matthew 5:20 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
What prevents one from receiving the gift is either a flat rejection in unbelief, or by adding to simple faith one's own merit or supposed "good works" (deeds, performance or reform), which scripture explicitly refutes ( Titus 3:5-6). God's way for redemption is so simple, a person's pride or fears often won't allow them to accept that God's redemption is really that complete and free.
Yes, God desires practical righteousness of His children, after being saved; however, one must realize, this is a completely separate issue from that which gets a person to Heaven. We can't bribe God; none will boast in Heaven over their entrance because they did this and stopped that, persevered, or performed religious acts etc. Some of the saved will go onto maturity, in varying degrees, and some will unfortunately not. There's blessing and rewards based on performance and obedience, but holds absolutely no determining factor for getting into Heaven. Some will be left standing at the Bema judgment empty handed but still enter in because Christ paid it all, and they received it... Meanwhile, there's those who plead their many wonderful works done in the name of Christ at the Great White Throne judgement and end up in Hell. The object in which one places their faith is what makes the difference. Christ alone?.. or Him plus your supposed merit and bribes?
Matthew 5:20 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
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