Family

The Trains

Wargames

Mike's Stuff

Heaven?

-

E-mail me

Q & A

The Bible way

My Story

Youth Page

PBC-a Coven?

- -

How will you get to Heaven?
A lot of people have a lot of different ideas.
Click on your favorites, and see what the Bible has to say.

I will go to Heaven because...
I will go to Heaven because I've done many good works. I will go to Heaven because I'm basically a good person.
I will go to Heaven because I go to church. I will go to Heaven because I'm a member of my church.
I will go to Heaven because Mary will take me safely there. I will go to Heaven because we're all going to Heaven.
I will go to Heaven because I've been baptized. I will go to Heaven because I keep the sacraments.
I will go to Heaven because a loving God would not send anyone to Hell. I will go to Heaven because I'll repent on my deathbed.
I will go to Heaven because I pray all the time. I will go to Heaven because I'm better than a lot of "religious" people.
I will go to Heaven because God's Spirit is on me. I will go to Heaven because I prayed a sinner's prayer.
I will go to Heaven because I love God. I will go to Heaven because I believe in God.
I will go to Heaven because I do the best I can. I will go to Heaven because there's no such place as Hell.
I will go to Heaven because I keep the Ten Commandments. I will go to Heaven because I've never sinned.
I will go to Heaven because there are many paths to God. I will go to Heaven because my parents were Christians.
I will go to Heaven because I'll pay for my sins in Purgatory. I will go to Heaven because I've given a lot of money to my church.
I will go to Heaven by grace, through faith, plus nothing. .
I won't go to Heaven because...
I won't go to Heaven because I'll just cease to exist when I die. I won't go to Heaven because I'll be reincarnated instead.
I won't go to Heaven because there's no such place as Heaven. I won't go to Heaven because it's too late for me — I'm too wicked.
I won't go to Heaven because I want to be with my friends in Hell. I won't go to Heaven because I don't deserve to go there.
I won't go to Heaven because I'd have to give up too much in this life. I won't go to Heaven because Hell will be just a great big party.
I won't go to Heaven because floating around with a harp would be too boring for me. I won't go to Heaven because Heaven doesn't want me.
I don't know if I'll go to Heaven because...
I don't know if I'll go to Heaven because I don't care. I don't know if I'll go to Heaven because I'll think about it after I clean up my life.
I don't know if I'll go to Heaven because it's impossible to know for sure. I don't know if I'll go to Heaven because I don't know how to get there.
I don't know if I'll go to Heaven because I've never thought about it. .
What does the Bible say about getting to Heaven?


I do many good things.

The Bible says...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Good works are good, but they cannot save your soul. When a policeman catches you speeding, it won't matter how safely you usually drive; you broke the law this time, and you'll have to pay for it. Good works won't negate a speeding ticket, and they won't negate your sin before God. And if doing good things was enough, then why did Jesus have to die on the cross?

Back to the top of the page


I'm basically a good person.

The Bible says...

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; (Romans 3:10)
That's how God sees us. Compared to God, no one is good. His standard is perfection, for He is perfect. Nothing less than perfection will be good enough for Him.

Back to the top of the page


I go to church.

The Bible says...

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. (Luke 18:10-14a)
Two men went to church. Only one had a right relationship with God. Being in church accomplished nothing for the Pharisee, and if that's what you're depending on for your salvation, it won't accomplish anything for you, either. Anyone can walk into a church building at the right time on the right day and attend a religious service; how can that qualify you for Heaven?

Back to the top of the page


I'm a member of my church.

The Bible says...

...absolutely nothing about this!
When Jesus was on earth, He never said a word about church membership. If that was the way to Heaven, wouldn't He have said something about it? Sorry, but that's a man-made idea, not from God. Someone once said that "going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger."

Back to the top of the page


Mary will take me safely there.

The Bible says...

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5)
Either Paul was writing the truth when he penned these words, or the Bible contains a mistake. Mary gave exactly one command in the entire Bible, and that is in John 2:5 - "Do whatever He tells you." She wants us to obey Jesus, not herself, or someone would have said so in Scripture. Anyone who says differently is contradicting the Bible.

Back to the top of the page


We're all going to Heaven.

The Bible says...

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
These words of Jesus don't make it sound like we're all going to the same place, do they? There is a road that leads to life, and a road that leads to destruction. Which road are you on?

Back to the top of the page


I've been baptized.

The Bible says...

...in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:20b-21)
This verse has confused many. Note that water didn't save Noah; he was saved through it (out of it), not by it. Likewise, baptism can't save you; you're saved "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Baptism is the pledge of a good conscience toward God, but how can your conscience be good toward God if your sin hasn't been dealt with? Baptism is a good work, and Ephesians 2:8-9 says that our good works cannot save us. Don't gamble your eternity on a sprinkle of water. You'll lose.

Back to the top of the page


I keep the sacraments.

The Bible says...

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5a)
Some of the sacraments are described in the Bible; others are totally absent from God's Word. Either way, they have no power to save us, because it's God's mercy that saves us, not our righteous acts. If we can work our way into Heaven by our own actions, then Christ died for nothing. The fact that He endured six agonizing hours on a cross He didn't deserve, suggests that His sacrifice was the only way, and the rest of Scripture bears this out.

Back to the top of the page


A loving God would not send anyone to Hell.

The Bible says...

If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
A loving God does not want anyone to go to Hell. He has provided a way for anyone to escape such a fate. But a just and perfect God cannot allow sin into His presence. If you reject the way to Heaven that God has provided, then you are sending yourself to Hell. The choice is yours; don't blame God.

Back to the top of the page


I'll repent on my deathbed.

The Bible says...

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)
You have no guarantee that you will get a deathbed. People are suddenly killed in auto accidents, house fires, violent crime; they are struck down by heart attacks and embolisms. Many who make it to their deathbeds are mentally incapacitated by strokes and Alzheimer's. How do you know you'll have a chance to make things right with God "later?" The time to make things right with God is right now, because right now is all you can be sure you've got.

Back to the top of the page


I pray all the time.

The Bible says...

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. (Matthew 23:14)
Jesus spoke those words to the Pharisees of His day, but they apply to us today as well. The fact that you pray a lot means nothing to God if your heart is far from Him. No matter how long, how frequently, or how fervently you say your prayers, those prayers won't bring you one step closer to Heaven. If anyone can gain access to God by "saying the magic words," regardless of his/her position before God, that would be unjust of Him, and God cannot be unjust.

Back to the top of the page


I'm better than a lot of "religious" people.

The Bible says...

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
Finding someone who's worse than you doesn't make you any better, especially when God's standard is perfection. Hell is filled with "religious" people; if you wind up next to them, will it be any comfort knowing you were better than they were on Earth? In God's eyes, sin is sin, and no one is any better than any other. We've all missed the mark and fallen short of His perfection, and the degrees of difference between one sinner and another won't make the difference between Heaven and Hell.

Back to the top of the page


God's Spirit is on me.

The Bible says...

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:22-23)
This may surprise many who seek spiritual gifts, but the presence of such gifts is not proof of salvation. This verse says so. It doesn't matter if you speak in tongues, prophesy, laugh in the Spirit, or heal the sick; your soul may still be on the wide road to eternal destruction.

Back to the top of the page


I prayed a sinner's prayer.

The Bible says...

The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (Isaiah 29:13)
Many religions have ritual prayers for various reasons, and God is impressed with none of them if the person praying does not have a right relationship with Him. The words that come out of your mouth have no power to save your soul. A sinner's prayer is supposed to be an outward expression of your heart-attitude toward God, and if your heart was nowhere near God when you prayed it, it was nothing but empty words, launched into the air to land nowhere.

Back to the top of the page


I love God.

The Bible says...

"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'" But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'" (Luke 13:26-27)
Jesus' warning was for those who want to be saved, but don't do anything about it. Loving God, and wanting to be with Him, are good things. But they are not enough. Lots of religious people love their God or gods, but their sin has not been dealt with, and that is the key issue when it comes to knowing God. If that element is missing, all your religious passion and fervor are just wasted energy.

Back to the top of the page


I believe in God.

The Bible says...

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. (James 2:19)
Is it enough just to believe in God? Satan believes in God! But it won't save him, and if that's all you're counting on to get you to Heaven, it won't save you, either.

Back to the top of the page


I do the best I can.

The Bible says...

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
That's the standard Jesus has set for us. Not "good enough," not "the best I can," but "perfect." It's not a suggestion or a guideline, it's a holy command. Unless you are truly perfect in God's sight, your best won't be good enough.

Back to the top of the page


There's no such place as Hell.

The Bible says...

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Luke 12:5)
By some counts, Jesus spoke more often about Hell than He did about Heaven. He regarded it as a real place, a horrible place, a place where no one would ever want to go. But many will go there. Refusing to believe in it will not change your eternal destiny. Hiding your head in the sand doesn't cut it with God.

Back to the top of the page


I keep the Ten Commandments.

The Bible says...

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10)
So you keep the Ten Commandments, do you? First question: can you name them all? If not, how can you be sure you obey them? Second question: have you ever broken one, ever? Even if it's just a little white lie or a little coveting of your neighbor's goods? If so, according to this verse, you might as well be an adulterous murderer who bows down to idols. No one has ever kept the Ten Commandments, except for Jesus Himself.

Back to the top of the page


I've never sinned.

The Bible says...

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8)
Oh, yes, you have. Anything you've ever done that was contrary to God's Word is a sin. Lying, losing your temper, envying others... there are no "big sins" or "little sins" in God's record books. He is equally offended by all sin. And it takes only one sin to keep you out of Heaven.

Back to the top of the page


There are many paths to God.

The Bible says...

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Was Jesus right in saying this, or wasn't He? If He wasn't, then He was either a satanic liar or a complete lunatic. But if He was right, then there is only one way to Heaven. Do you know what that one way is?

Back to the top of the page


My parents were Christians.

The Bible says...

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (Matthew 3:9)
John the Baptist had these words for those Jews who thought their ancestry was enough to get them into a right relationship with God. And if Abraham, who was called "the friend of God," couldn't benefit his descendants, will you fare any better by trusting in your own parents for salvation? Their faith may have been enough to save them, but they cannot save you.

Back to the top of the page


I'll pay for my sins in Purgatory.

The Bible says...

...absolutely nothing about this!
Purgatory is not in the Bible. Jesus never spoke of such a place; neither did the apostles or the old-testament prophets. If there really were such a place, wouldn't God have said something in His Word about it?

Also, consider this: the idea behind Puragtory is that there are some sins that we have to pay for ourselves. In other words, there are sins that the perfect blood of Jesus wasn't enough to pay for, but we can somehow pay for them. Are we greater than Christ? Greater than the Christ who, on the cross, cried out, "It is finished" (Greek: "paid in full")?

Back to the top of the page


I've given a lot of money to my church.

The Bible says...

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart." (Acts 8:20-22)
Many through the years have thought they could buy God off - that He would be impressed with a monetary gift. Peter's words close this door with no room for misunderstanding. God doesn't need your money. And if money could get you into Heaven, that would leave the poor without hope, and that would be totally unjust on God's part.

Back to the top of the page


By grace, through faith, plus nothing.

This is the right answer. If you don't know what it means, follow the link that asks, "What does the Bible say about getting to Heaven?"

Back to the top of the page


I'll just cease to exist when I die.

The Bible says...

"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned." (John 5:28-29)
This is a popular belief among evolutionists, and also among Jehovah's Witnesses. But it's not what Jesus said. He said everyone will rise again at some future point in history, give an account to Him, and face a final judgment. What will you say to Him on that day? "I'm not supposed to be in existence anymore" won't be appropriate.

Back to the top of the page


I'll be reincarnated instead.

The Bible says...

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27)
God says we each die once, and then we are judged. According to the Bible, there is no reincarnation. This life is all you get, and your eternal fate rests on what you do with this life. What will you do?

Back to the top of the page


There's no such place as Heaven.

The Bible says...

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)
Jesus said there is a Heaven and that God lives there. Was He lying? Even the Pharisees never accused Him of that. Yes, Heaven exists, and those who are acceptable to God will go there when this life ends. The rest will be sent to a place of torment. It's one or the other. Where are you going? How will you get there?

Back to the top of the page


It's too late for me — I'm too wicked.

The Bible says...

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9b)
As long as you're breathing, it's not too late. There is no sin that Christ cannot forgive if you ask him. Even if you've sold your soul to the devil, Jesus is greater than Satan and can nullify that bargain. The only obstacle is whether you are willing to be saved or not.

Back to the top of the page


I want to be with my friends in Hell.

The Bible says...

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'" (Luke 16:27-28)
It's tragic that many of our friends will, indeed, be there. But there will be no happy reunions there, because no one will be able to focus on anything but their own torments. Seeing an old friend or family member there will bring no joy, but rather more grief that someone we love is subject to eternal agony.

Back to the top of the page


I don't deserve to go there.

The Bible says...

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
You're right. You don't deserve to go to Heaven. You're wise to realize this. But that's no obstacle for an all-powerful, loving God. He has made a way for your sins to be paid for so you can go to be with Him, in spite of your unworthiness.

Back to the top of the page


I'd have to give up too much in this life.

The Bible says...

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
You do not have to give up anything to be saved. But if you really want your life to be pleasing to God, you must renounce everything that the Bible calls sin. Ask yourself: what pleasures does this life offer that are worth going to Hell for? A hundred years from now, you won't remember those pleasures, but you may eternally regret the choices that those pleasures led you to make.

Back to the top of the page


Hell will be just a great big party.

The Bible says...

So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' (Luke 16:24)
Where this lie about Hell being a fun place got started, I don't know. But there will be no partying in Hell. Hell is a place of torment and separation from God, without hope or relief, for ever and ever. No one in his right mind would want to go there.

Back to the top of the page


Floating around with a harp would be too boring for me.

The Bible says...

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (I Corinthians 2:9)
Angels floating around on clouds, playing harps, is a popular conception of what Heaven will be like. But it is probably a false conception. We don't know exactly what Heaven will be like. But it will not be dull. Some verses of Scripture speak of us ruling the nations with Christ; others describe us as being in the very presence of God Himself. Don't throw away your eternity over a myth.

Back to the top of the page


Heaven doesn't want me.

The Bible says...

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
Have you seen that "Heaven doesn't want me and Hell is afraid I'll take over" bumper sticker? It's a lie. Heaven does want you, and Hell is afraid of nothing but Heaven. God does not want anyone to perish and go to Hell, although many will go there because they reject the way out that He has provided. It has nothing to do with what you've done with your life - Christ can forgive any sin if you're willing to be forgiven His way. Anyone can go to Heaven. You may have to leave some baggage behind, but God has promised that it will be worth it.

Back to the top of the page


I don't care.

The Bible says...

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:1-3a)
You have read these passages of Scripture. You cannot claim ignorance; you cannot say you weren't warned. God will call us all to give an account of our lives, and whether you care or not, you will answer to Him. What will your answer be? How can you not care where you spend all of eternity?

Back to the top of the page


I'll think about it after I clean up my life.

The Bible says...

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)
Your life will never be good enough or clean enough to impress God, so don't let that stand in your way. He just wants you to come as you are, and He will help you with the cleaning-up after your soul is saved. The question is, how will you come to Him?

Back to the top of the page


It's impossible to know for sure.

The Bible says...

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (I John 5:13)
So that you may know. Not "guess so," not "hope so," not "think so." God never meant for our eternal destiny to be a matter of guesswork - that would not be loving, and God is love. So if you aren't certain where you're going after you die, you'd be wise to find out, so you can be sure.

Back to the top of the page


I don't know how to get there.

The Bible says...

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Do you want to know how to get there? The fact that you're poking through this web page suggests that you do. God will let Himself be known by those who seek Him on His terms. If you really want to know, follow the "What does the Bible say about getting to Heaven?" link at the bottom of the table.

Back to the top of the page


I've never thought about it.

The Bible says...

For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (II Corinthians 6:2)
You're thinking about it now, or you wouldn't be browsing through this web page. Putting off a decision about God is the same as telling Him "No." Today could be the day your soul is saved, or it could be the day you throw away your last chance. Make a decision today, right now, before something distracts you and you never think about Him again until it's too late.

Back to the top of the page