HOW CAN I BE 100% SURE THAT I WILL GO TO HEAVEN WHEN I DIE?

[HealthAndHappiness]

That's the point.. just because you believe does not make you saved.

Because the devil believes does not mean he is saved. You can believe and live like the devil.

Believing unto salvation = a renewed heart. The change is noticeable.

Who is James writing to, brethren in Christ or those who were lost?

 

[amazingrace]

Jas 2:17-20
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jesus came to save us from sin
Not to save us IN sin.

Even the devil believes in the name of Jesus.

Mat 7:20-23
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 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. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

MANY will be to told " I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

If you profess to know Jesus and are working iniquity, to will not be saved.

Lk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Romans 2:6-7

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Hebrews 10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
(eternal salvation)

John 5:29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1 Jn 5:11-12

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Jn 15:5 apart from Christ? nothing!

Phil 4:13 with Christ? all things!




gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
(sin cuts us off from Christ and His life giving grace)

thks

 

[Burn1986]

Ya’ll know the OP hasn’t replied since June, right?

 

[Lovette]

No one goes to heaven or hell, all descend to Hades/underworld where the Lord went to, waiting for resurrection.

 

[amazingrace]

Sin what seperated us from God.
Sin = death.

To be saved = saved from sin.

Jesus is how we are saved.

Heaven has no sin.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

If you are holding sin in our lives we will not enter heaven..

Sin is removed by grace, through the power of Jesus in us.

Justification and sanctification by faith.

Do fall into the devils trap of justification alone..

Many are teaching that we can continue in sin that grace may abide. This is a trap and will result in the loss of salvation.

Rom 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
....12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

what is eternal life?

how is it different than eternal salvation?

thks

 

[Gideon300]

To Know, Love, & serve God!

The means of our salvation is according to the purpose of our creation!

To Know, Love, & serve God!

eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Col 1:9-12

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:


2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Ps 23:3 ...he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Mt 7:14 Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

(((Know)))

Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,


(((Love)))

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Rom 13:8-10

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Deut. 6:5
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

John 14:28
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

1 cor 13:2 faith alone without charity avails nothing.

1 cor 13:12 now abide faith, hope, and charity, and the greatest of these is charity.

1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

(((serve God)))

Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

all vitutes not "faith alone"!

Faith:
Hope:
Charity:
Humility:
Meekness:
Obedience:
Purity:
Diligence:
Temperance:
Justice:
Prudence:
Moderation:
Courage:
Fortitude:
Generosity:
Modesty:
Honesty:
Patience:



Know, Love, & Serve God!

By the Royal Virtues of Jesus Christ!

"Faith, hope, & charity"!

1 thes 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

"Patience & Humility"!

thks

You confuse the means to salvation with the fruits of salvation. Being born again is eternal life. Holiness and righteousness are the gift that comes as Christ comes to dwell in us. The list of demands that you place on believers is the fruit.

No one is instantly perfect. Not even you. That's why we should

".....grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18

 

[Burn1986]

Salvation Salvation Salvation Salvation Salvation.

That’s it? Nothing else? No one has anything beyond salvation? Nothing?

When y’all got baptized, I wonder why y’all just didn’t stay in the water just stay there in the baptismal pool. Why come out?

How do I know I was really baptized?

 

[PaulThomson]

I try to live as righteous a life as possible since being baptised and try to live a sinless life. But I still have problems with things like swearing and smoking mainly. I wish God would speak to me directly so I know where I'm at spiritually because if theres no hope in making it to heaven then I may as well just live recklessly right?

How can you know fr xcertain you will go to heaven when you die?


By dying.

 

[mailmandan]

You confuse the means to salvation with the fruits of salvation.

Which culminates in salvation by faith AND WORKS.

 

[mailmandan]

Jas 2:17-20
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

In regard to "faith without works is dead," (James 2:20) James does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith or that works are the source of life in faith or that we are saved by works. That would be like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree, and the fruit is the source of life in the tree. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works demonstrates that it's dead.

If someone merely says-claims they have faith, but lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. (James 2:14) We show our faith by our works (James 2:18) but we do not establish it. Faith is alive in Christ and established the moment we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:5-8) and good works follow. (Ephesians 2:10)

Jesus came to save us from sin
Not to save us IN sin.

That phrase is typically recited by those who teach salvation by faith and works and/or sinless perfection.

Even the devil believes in the name of Jesus.

In James 2:19, we see that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God," but they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) and are not saved. Their trust and reliance are in Satan (and not in Christ) as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works. There is a difference between mere "mental assent" belief (as the demons have) and saving belief in Christ, which the demons do not have.

Mat 7:20-23
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 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. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

MANY will be to told " I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

In context, Jesus is warning against false prophets. Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Hence, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:17 - Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, BUT a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. *This puts verse 23 into perspective.

If you profess to know Jesus and are working iniquity, to will not be saved.

Profess is the key word. James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. Hence, working iniquity/bad trees bear bad fruit/will not be saved.

 

[amazingrace]

Yes and The Lord reminded me this morning while reading Acts 13 that Paul's gospel was John the Baptist's message on salvation.

24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The gospel is good news because we can know for certain that Jesus gave His life for all our sins and arose from the dead.
It would be bad news if:

A. We could lose it
Or

B. Had to add obedience to the law of Moses to be saved.

None of us on the forum could honestly know whether or not we were saved if A or B were the case. That would be sad or frightening news.

salvation cannot be lost, once we die and are judged and found worthy we enter eternal salvation and it cannot be lost.
mt 10:22 rev 2:10 mt 25:32 acts 10:42

we now have grace

rom 5:1-2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

which can be increased by good works or lost by deadly sin, sun unto death, spiritual death

thks

 

[amazingrace]

Which culminates in salvation by faith AND WORKS.

Poor man: a life of suffering & sacrifice to spread the Gospel only promised eternal salvation, he should have had "faith alone"!
mk 10:29:30

Poor martyrs who died for Christ to attain eternal salvation, they should have had "faith alone"! Lk 9:24

Romans 14:18
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

not those who profess "faith alone"!

thks

 

[amazingrace]

Amen, not the long list of fruits of the Spirit, but because you believed on Jesus.

refers to grace not eternal salvation!


rom 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

rom 5:1-2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.


Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

(life of grace not eternal salvation)

thks

 

[amazingrace]

Everlasting life and eternal life are used synonymously. I can't say that is always the case since I don't recall doing an exhaustive word study on those terms: However, I looked up a number of passages on salvation and when used in the famous John chapter 3 it says...

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

In our KJV, the same Greek word is used for both eternal and everlasting life. It is written so well that it doesn't sound awkward by repeating the same word back to back all of the time. It's the same idea for why we English speakers use pronouns instead of saying, John said, and then John did such and such as John was walking John's dog. In the case of everlasting and eternal, the reader can tell just from context how eternal life is defined here in spite of not knowing what the Greek says.

Word Summary
aiōnios: agelong, eternal
Original Word: αἰώνιος
Transliteration: aiōnios
Phonetic Spelling: (ahee-o'-nee-os)
Part of Speech: Adjective
Short Definition: agelong, eternal
Meaning: agelong, eternal
Strong's Concordance
eternal, forever, everlasting.
From aion; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) -- eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).

eternal life refers to the life of grace


rom 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

rom 5:1-2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.


Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

(life of grace not eternal salvation)

stand in grace!
fall in sin!

1 Jn 1:6-7

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1) we do not have eternal salvation

Mk 10:30 mk 13:13 mt 24:13 rev 2:10

2) we have the grace of justification

3) grace can be increased by good works mt 7:7 mt 7:14 mt 26:41
2 pet 3:18

4) grace enables good works
Jn 15:4
2 cor 12:9
Romans 1:5
Colossians 1:6



5) grace can be lost by deadly sin

Eph 5:2-6
gal 5:1-4
gal 5:19-21
gal 6:7-8
1 cor 6:9-10 & 15-20
2 cor 4:7
1 tim 5:12
rev 21:8
rev 21:27
rom 8:1
can lose grace gal 5:4
can have grace in vain 1 cor 15:10
treasure in earthen vessels 2 cor 4:7
fragile can be lost
1 Jn 3:15 no life (grace)

We have union by grace not eternal salvation!


thks

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

eternal life refers to the life of grace


rom 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

rom 5:1-2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.


Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

(life of grace not eternal salvation)

stand in grace!
fall in sin!

1 Jn 1:6-7

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Fellowship when a believer in Christ walks in in light, by his spirit and not the flesh is the theme of 1 John.
Fellowship of a son and father exists when there us repore. It is broken by disobedience however the sonship remains.
Fellowship is the theme rather than relationship here.

Eternal salvation is clearly expressed to those John speaks to and their assurance of such before death 1:11-13

11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14And this is the confidence that we have in him

1) we do not have eternal salvation

Because your confidence is in the flesh.

Mk 10:30 mk 13:13 mt 24:13 rev 2:10

2) we have the grace of justification

It's either grace or your works.
It cannot be both.

"6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."
Romans 11

3) grace can be increased by good works

Nope

mt 7:7 mt 7:14 mt 26:41
2 pet 3:18

4) grace enables good works
Jn 15:4
2 cor 12:9
Romans 1:5
Colossians 1:6



5) grace can be lost by deadly sin

Eph 5:2-6
gal 5:1-4
gal 5:19-21
gal 6:7-8
1 cor 6:9-10 & 15-20
2 cor 4:7
1 tim 5:12
rev 21:8
rev 21:27
rom 8:1
can lose grace gal 5:4
can have grace in vain 1 cor 15:10
treasure in earthen vessels 2 cor 4:7
fragile can be lost
1 Jn 3:15 no life (grace)

We have union by grace not eternal salvation!

Ephesians 2:8
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

[mailmandan]

salvation cannot be lost, once we die and are judged and found worthy we enter eternal salvation and it cannot be lost.
mt 10:22 rev 2:10 mt 25:32 acts 10:42

we now have grace

rom 5:1-2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

which can be increased by good works or lost by deadly sin, sun unto death, spiritual death

thks

Salvation from start (justification) to finish (glorification) is eternal.

In John 10:27-28, we read - My sheep hear My voice, (not some of them hear His voice and some of them don't hear His voice) and I know them, (not some of them He knows and some of them He doesn't know) and they follow Me. (not some of them follow Him and some of them don't follow Him) And I give them eternal life, (not some of them He gives eternal life and some of them He doesn't give eternal life) and they shall never perish; (not some of them will never perish and some of them will perish) neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (not some of them will never be snatched out of His hand and some of them will be snatched out of His hand)

Romans 8:30 - Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. *ALL of them. *Notice how Paul uses the past tense for a future event to stress its certainty.

Ephesians 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

[mailmandan]

Poor man: a life of suffering & sacrifice to spread the Gospel only promised eternal salvation, he should have had "faith alone"!
mk 10:29:30

Poor martyrs who died for Christ to attain eternal salvation, they should have had "faith alone"! Lk 9:24

Romans 14:18
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

not those who profess "faith alone"!

thks

Poor confused Roman Catholic. A life of suffering and sacrifice to spread the gospel (like the apostle Paul) is not the basis or means by which we merit eternal salvation. How much sacrifice did the thief on the cross accomplish while hanging on the cross the same day of his conversion? Those who spend their life suffering and sacrificing to spread the gospel were saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not by works. (Romans 4:2-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9) People do not die for Christ in order to earn eternal salvation. You are promoting a works-based false gospel that is according to SELF.

SELF promotion
SELF righteousness
SELF preservation

This is the dividing line between salvation and condemnation: John 3:18 - He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.