God's Plan of Salvation

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All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.   (Proverbs 16:2).   So if you were to ask most anyone if they think they will go to Heaven they would say "Yeah, I'm not that bad.... I believe in God." or something like that.   Most people are practicing some type of religion or ritual in order to insure (at least in their minds) that they will go to Heaven when they die.   Many think that their church attendance, confirmation, baptism, communion, confession, gifts, offerings, and above average morals will earn them an entrance into the Kingdom.   My friend if you were to die today and stand before the Lord what would you say?

Sadly, anyone who is trusting in the above mentioned works to earn eternal life has fallen into a pit of misconception.   You see, the Bible clearly teaches, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.   (Romans 3:20).   A person who keeps all the religious rules is truly admired by man but God has a different standard.   In Jesus' time the religious leaders were the scribes and Pharisees, 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.   (Matthew 5:20).   He said this to point out the fact that you can be a highly respected church member and still go to Hell because it is not what you have done, it is who you know that determines whether you will go to Heaven.   Do professing Christians really go to Hell?

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.   (Matthew 7:21).   God's will is clear, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30).   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.   (2 Peter 3:9).   The reason God requires repentance is, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.   (Isaiah 53:6).   Do you have to repent?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.   (Luke 13:3).   Yes, repentance is required, that means you must recognize your sinful state before a Holy God and realize that you can't earn your way to Heaven because you deserve Hell.   Then forsake your own will and way and turn to Jesus as your saviour, trusting Him and Him alone to save you.   That is why God came to this earth in the flesh, humbling Himself by taking on human form and dying the horrible death on the cross.   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   (John 3:16).   But I've gone to church every Sunday and I do my best, I'm better than most, I've been baptized and confirmed, surely God will let me in.

If you have to keep some standard to get to Heaven then you are making Jesus's sacrifice of no effect and saying, "God, I have a better way."   It is a slap in the face of the Lord to think that you are good enough to get to Heaven when Jesus is the One who had to suffer for your sins in order to offer you forgiveness.   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   (John 14:6).   I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.   (John 10:9).   That is why it is who you know not what you do that determines where you will go when you die.   When Jesus tells of the people who called Him Lord but did not get to Heaven He says, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.   (Matthew 7:23).   Do you know Jesus, and does He know you?   Are you sure that you will stand before Him in glory one day secured by the power of His blood?   Have you been born again?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.   (John 3:3).   You can be sure, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [repentance], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead [faith], thou shalt be saved.   (Romans 10:9).