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Is going to heaven by good works?

Discussion in 'Religion & Spirituality' started by vadze, May 23, 2015.

  1. vadze

    vadze New Member

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    In Christianity, the message many preachers are preaching is contradicting each other. Some said salvation is by grace and others are saying it is by work.

    There have been arguments about what qualifies a believer to heaven and many have different school of thoughts about it.

    Some preach those doing bad things will not go, others are saying they will go if they confess Christ but even those on the later side contradict themselves more.

    My question is, what qualifies one to heaven?
     
  2. Nell

    Nell New Member

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    My belief is that we qualify for Heaven by believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God, that He died for our sins, and rose again on the third day . Our salvation is a gift that is given to us by the grace of God, and is not directly related to good works. However, I believe that good works are a requirement for every Christian. These works, in the name of Jesus, identify us as Christians, and bring glory to God. Heaven does not depend on the good works, but our rewards in Heaven certainly do.
     
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  3. Godsent

    Godsent New Member

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    The Bible tells me that just being a good person is not enough to get into heaven. In Matthew 19;16-26 we see the story of the rich and the young ruler. He seems to ask the right question: "What good deed must I do to have to have eternal life?" Somehow he is aware that despite all his of his efforts, there is something lacking and missing, and wants to know what else can be done to obtain eternal life. When Jesus Confronts the young rulers with the killer response which is, if he wishes to be perfect he must sell all that he has, and come follow Him. You see the young ruler thought he was perfect, He said he follows all of the 10 commandments, but fails to acknowledge that his great wealth has become an idol in his life, and if he truly knew the commandments, he would have known that the first one says that we are to have no other gods before him. The young ruler saddenly walked away. In order for us enter Heaven we need to confess our sin and accept Jesus as our lord and Savior, Believe that he died for our sin, and rose up on the third day. Then tried to live a righteous life.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2015
  4. arrhen fej

    arrhen fej New Member

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    Many people believe that the answer to the question of how to get to heaven is to be a good person. For some, being good means not being bad. One or more of the following may describe you: You haven’t murdered anyone. You don’t steal. You don’t curse, too much. You don’t lie, too often. You’re not a drug addict. You don’t cheat. You rarely gamble. Your conscience is clear because you aren’t nearly as bad as the people you read about in the newspapers or see on television. You’re just like everyone else you know and you can’t all be going to hell.
    Wrong you cannot get into heaven by good works alone you need a relationship with God.
     
  5. eZyeil

    eZyeil New Member

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    Same here. The Bible is never confusing,just that many misinterpret what was written in it. "Faith without works is nothing" means when you accept and believe Jesus as your personal saviour,that is faith, and when faith comes there is a desire to serve that is work. To simplify, that justification of your faith is works although it is wrong to tell that you'll go to heaven through good works because as it was also written in the Bible, good works are just rags on God's eyes without the faith, I am eager to answer this so I didn't include the verses. I'm a young people of a Christian Church and this is some of the topics during our Sunday School :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2015
  6. helpinghand

    helpinghand New Member

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    I believe that being a good human being is like having a passport to heaven. God and evil reside among us only. If we do good, there is God inside us and if we do bad to somebody, evil is taking control of us. This is the crux of all religions. God is beyond religions, sex and nations. I think our life is an opportunity to help as many people as possible and thereby we can be close to God. We can see God among us as helping hands to the poor and needy.
     
  7. eZyeil

    eZyeil New Member

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    I don't want to be like saying I totally disagree but yes I am. I don't want a debate over you but if that's the view you have then I assume you don't read the Bible.

    One, whether God or evil reside among us. Bear in mind that it is God who had given us the quality to distinguish right from wrong I believe doing bad is our choice not "evil residing among us", because as you can see evil are only decievers and tempters to encourage you to do bad.

    Two, being a good human is our passport to heaven? If you have read the Bible and read about Jesus parable, specifically the parable of the tax collector then you can see that He favored more the tax collector who admits his sin than those who live with goodworks. If being a good human is our passport to heaven then why did God chose Paul to be his servant? If you are again aware,Paul killed many Christian believer, God knows there are more far better than Paul out there but why Paul? I know the answer but I am living you this thought so you can understand what the word FAITH is.

    Three is we can see God among us by being a helping hand for the poor and needy. Let me quote it, "poor and needy". If you are helping the poor then I assume you are rich?, or better than the poor. Because as you can see,you can never help the poor if you are one of them I supposed. You cannot give what you don't have. It is also contradicting, as you can see, God said the heaven is nearer for the poor.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2015
  8. SarahWorksAtHome

    SarahWorksAtHome New Member

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    My own personal belief and conviction is this:
    Salvation is the only way to be saved from hell and to spend eternal life in heaven. Salvation is only acquired by simply believing in Jesus Christ as God's only son who came to Earth by way of virgin birth and died on the cross to save us from our sins and that by believing in Him as your savior and accepting Him into your heart, asking God to lead your life and forgive you of your sins, repenting of your sins... that is the one and only true way.
    My view on good deeds and good works is that it is something that should be part of a Christian's life after salvation. If God is leading your heart and life you will be convicted to do good works in His name, not for pride. However, these deeds alone will not be a "ticket to heaven". A person could be very charitable, kind and generous but if they don't have Christ in their life and believe in Him as their personal savior... it ain't happenin' bub!
    Just my personal view, please do not think I am saying "I am right and you are wrong." it's just what I believe.
     
  9. cliff

    cliff New Member

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    Good works alone are not enough to make you go to heaven. Heaven is open to all as long as you believe in Jesus Christ. Anyone can do good works, but that does not give them a ticket to heaven. We must remember that Jesus is the only way to heaven. If you do not believe in the word of God, then you are lost for good.

    Jesus died for our sin and the work of redemption was finished. All that remain is our role to play. Even the devil can do good things, but not all the time. Good works are good, but must be done in accordance with the word of God. Remember, it is Jesus who will judge you.
     
  10. Stephen Hill

    Stephen Hill New Member

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    Religion was used for wars truth an spirit transcend religion period, so yes I would have to say by being a humble person you will go to heaven as for good works humble people do good works naturally preaches most of them do it for money now days anyway. That's why gad said even the very elite would fall if he didn't come back; in the end we are all human beings so just stay humble an treat other even if they are negative you be that positive person that spreads happiness in a world full of hate. God knows all of our hearts he knows if its pure or unclean, but in the end being a humble person will attract positive things your way an god sees every thing your doing, thinking, also future you period. So always remember stay positive an you will go to heaven just don't focus on what people say go with what you feel your spirit will transcend any ones opinion.
     
  11. EdgardoG

    EdgardoG New Member

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    Hi,

    This is a great question.

    First salvation has many factors to it, is a dynamic relationship between God and you.

    When preachers say salvation is reached by faith alone that is not correct and when they say if reached by works alone that is also incorrect, it takes a lot more than that.

    Let me explain is short terms and please if after that you have any other questions let me know.

    The first step to salvation was made by God which was sending his own Son to die on the cross for your sins so you can have the opportunity to be saved, this action alone does not save you in other words you have to take advantage of the opportunity God gave you by letting Jesus die in the cross for your sins.

    The second step is up to you, you need to first accept that JesusChrist is the Lord and is God's Son and believe in that will all your heart and then repent of your sins and come to Jesus and give him your life so He can forgive you and clean you of all sins, that is how you become a new creature, or a born again Christian, there are differences between Christians that are convinced and Christians that are Converted.

    The third step is made by God again, namely JesusChrist, as when you come to him He forgives you and cleans you and makes you a new creature.

    The fourth step is up to you again, now that you are born again and clean of sin, you need to live a sinless life, a life following Jesus and his example, this is living in Holiness, and if you sin repent and admit it so Jesus can forgive you again, I say this because we all sin so we constantly have to be asking for forgiveness, but is not about sinning because you want to sin is about sins that you commit sometimes without even knowing you did and minor sins not grave sins.

    Then the last step is made by God again, if you live in Holiness and follow Jesus like you are supposed to then God the Father will send the Holy Spirit to baptize you and dwell in you, when that happens you are sealed and that point you are sure you are saved, but remember if you sin again after that you will lose the Holy Spirit and have to start at step 2 again.

    Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is a REQUISITE to being saved in the very near Rapture of the Church.

    God bless.
     
  12. shaneckawilliams

    shaneckawilliams New Member

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    I have read the majority of these posts and one thing that is a common answer is that good works does not give a person an automatic ticket to Heaven. That I agree. You can do good works all day long but if you live a hellish lifestyle and your heart is far away from God then your efforts are useless. I have read where people have quoted the parable of the rich man and the tax collector. I have read that salvation is granted through baptism and belief in Christ Jesus. But, there is one thing that I have not read. No one mentions keeping the Law or Torah. Not one person even mentioned keeping the Law of Moses.

    The mainstream "Christian" thinks that the Law was nailed to the cross with Christ and there is no need to keep it. That is wrong. The punishment we would have received, which is death was crucified with Christ not the Law. I will not mislead you into thinking that the Law is mandatory for salvation but what is sin without the Law. What I am trying to say is that sin is a transgression of the Law (1 John ch. 3 v. 4). We as followers of the Most High God and His son Yeshua (Jesus Christ) should keep the Law not just one part of it which is the 10 commandments. Think about this. If the Law was truly dead then why are we following the ten commandments? Why are we still tithing in churches? Why do we practice pagan holidays such as Easter and Christmas? Why after the resurrection the disciples still read the Torah on the Sabbath? Why did the disciples continue to celebrate Passover and other holy days? Why did the disciples continue to eat kosher if the Law was null and void? Why are we not out stealing and killing each other? Our entire judicial system is based on the Bible.

    To be saved we have to have faith in Yeshua (Jesus Christ), follow the Law of Moses, be baptized in Yeshua's name and live a life that is pleasing to God, and do good works so that the Father can be seen through the believer.
     
  13. RTWB

    RTWB New Member

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    St. Basil the Great, a fourth-century theologian, taught that living a moral life in the example of Jesus Christ with humility and in service to the poor, the weak and the lowly is the true path to heaven. He wrote; “Do not stand before God as a slave in servile fear, nor a mercenary looking for wages as in obtaining eternal life, but follows for the sake of the good itself. " In other words, Do good for others for the sake of goodness only, not for a a free pass to heaven.
     
  14. Aian

    Aian New Member

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    It's a very good question really.
    I think the only one who can really judge us if we qualify for Heaven or not is Allah/God Himself.

    Everything we do devotes to being qualified for Heaven or Hell. Even though having faith and worshiping our Creator is the most important, there are many other virtues about us that will also be accounted for when we'll be judged.

    It short, everything will be taken into account. If you were very religious and a extremely devoted to you Creator but didn't have any good behavior or respect for people around you, then you're likely lacking what's needed to qualify for Heaven.
    I do believe that a person's good deeds matter a lot when going to Heaven.
     

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