Is the Idea That We Who Are Saved by Faith Can Enter the Heavenly Kingdom in Line With the Lord Jesus’ Words?
Question: The Bible says, “For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation” (Rom 10:10). We have already been saved through our faith in Jesus. Once we’re saved, we’re eternally saved. When the Lord arrives we will definitely be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Answer: “Once we’re saved, we’re forever saved and can enter the kingdom of heaven,” this is just man’s conception and imagining. This is not at all in accordance with God’s words. The Lord Jesus never said that people could enter the kingdom of heaven just by being saved through faith. The Lord Jesus said that only those who do the heavenly Father’s will can enter the kingdom of heaven. Only the Lord Jesus’ words have authority and are the truth. Men’s conceptions and imaginations are not the truth. They are not the standards by which one can enter the kingdom of heaven. Regarding the “salvation through faith” that we talk about, this “salvation” only refers to having one’s sins forgiven, not being convicted or condemned to death by the law. It doesn’t mean that the person who has been “saved” can walk in God’s way, has been freed from sin, and has become holy. It definitely does not mean he can enter the kingdom of heaven. Although we’re forgiven of sin through faith, our sinful nature still remain. We still can often sin and resist God. We live in a constant cycle of sinning and then confessing our sins. How can people like that enter the kingdom of heaven? The Bible says, “and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). If you say frequent sinners can enter the kingdom of heaven, that isn’t in line with the facts. You dare say that those impure and corrupt men, those frequent sinners, live in the kingdom of heaven? Have you ever seen an impure, evil person in the kingdom of heaven? The Lord is righteous and holy. Would the Lord allow frequent sinners to enter the kingdom of heaven? The Lord Jesus once said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the Son stays ever” (Jhn 8:34–35). Therefore, we can see that those who have not broken free of their sin and attained holiness will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. If what you say is true, and those who gain salvation through faith can enter the kingdom of heaven, then why did the Lord Jesus say this, “Not every one that said to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven”? Why did He say He would separate the goats from the sheep and the wheat from the tares? Therefore, "Those who are saved through faith will be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven" cannot be true! That belief is directly contradicted by the Lord Jesus’ words!
Excerpted from the movie script of Stinging Memories
Read more on our Gospel Questions page, or click on the related articles below.
• What Is True Salvation and How Should We Understand Salvation?
• Believe in Your Heart and Confess With Your Mouth = Enter God’s Kingdom?
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