Do Christians go to heaven when we die? part 2

In part one we saw that Paul was looking forward to death, so that he could be with Christ.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that most faithful Christians have no hope of going to heaven. This also includes all faithful who died before Christ's resurrection. Is this what the Bible says?

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. --Matthew 8:11

By faith Abraham... lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah... All these died in faith... and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. --Hebrews 11:8-16

But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. --Philippians 3:20-21

Jehovah's Witnesses are right that the Bible speaks of a new earth. And since the Bible does mention it, why don't Christian churches talk about it much?

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:2

So why do Jehovah's Witnesses emphasize the teaching of a new earth?
"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. --Philippians 3:18-21

Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life...

Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, both low and high, rich and poor together!

Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

 

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,

for he will receive me. Psalm 49

Do Christians go to heaven when we die?

John 6:58 "Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." 

1 John 5:13 "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." 

John 8:51"I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 

Romans 8:2 "because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." 

Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."

2 Corinthians 12:2 "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows."

2 Corinthians 5:8 "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

Philippians 1:22-23 "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far."

Acts 7:59 "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 

My next question is then.... The Bible speak of the meek inheriting the earth, so why does Paul wish to depart from his body to be with the Lord? 

 

And why do Jehovah's Witnesses seem to be the only ones who talk about a paradise earth?

But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God. --Romans 4:5

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—your minds may well put be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ! --2 Corinthians 11:3,4

When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. - Romans 4:4,5  "But the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23


"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying that a person has life.” But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, He has perfected those who are being sanctified. That through his death... he might emancipate all those who for fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives.- Galatians 3:3,12; Hebrews 10:12-14;2:14,15


It is clear that Paul wrote to the Galatians, people who had already accepted Christ’s sacrifice, in order to correct them of their erroneous view of adding works as a requirement for righteousness:

“You are parted from Christ, whoever you are that try to be declared righteous by means of law; you have fallen away from his undeserved kindness. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 



For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying that a person has life.” For such freedom Christ set us free. Therefore stand fast, and do not let yourselves be confined again in a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 3:3,12; 5:4;1

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised.-- Romans 4:1-3, 10-11



Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 7:37-38; 4:10

Then he said to me, 'It has already happened. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water from the well of life free to anybody who is thirsty; whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 21:6; 22:17

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." --Titus 3:3-6

At John 3:16,18,36 and similar Scriptures, the Greek word is “believing”. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9

But we can all think of examples of people who simply say that they believe or think they are saved with nothing to show for it, can we not?


Then what is the catalyst, what distinguishes a person from being either saved or not saved?
The Spirit.

"Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." --Romans 8:8,9

The guarantee of that salvation is the mark of the Spirit:

you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:14 compare 2 Corinthians 5:5)

"If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." –Romans 8:10-11

And the fruit of the Spirit are things that the Spirit causes us to have, and by their fruits you will know them. The scripture does not say to work on these things. On the contrary these things are fruit, and the works of the flesh are opposed to this fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23)



Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5


http://wolfmueller.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/oh-yeah-jesus-died-a-summary-of-reformation-teaching/

"I cannot. I cannot atone for my sin; I cannot earn heaven; I cannot make things right. I cannot please God. I cannot."

If you have been confused by all the religions of the world; if you have despaired of finding anything resembling absolute truth, you may be at peace. Listen as Luther points out why Christianity is unique and why Christ is the only Savior this world will ever see. In the Small Catechism, the simple book he wrote so fathers and mothers might be better able to share the Savior's story of salvation with their little ones,...listen again to the first two words: "I cannot." That's it. Those two words, "I cannot" is the confession which sets Christianity apart from all the other religions of the world.

Please, investigate the hundreds of religions, the thousands of belief systems, the tens of thousands of divinities which have appeared and faded from the pages of human history. If you do, you will find that they all say, "You must try. You must try to bridge the gulf sin has created between you and god. You must try to pay the price for all you have done wrong. You must try to find a way that will transform your god's frown into a smile." "You must try" is what these faiths say and try is what their followers do.

Understand, I share these things not as a mockery of other faiths. Not at all, I stand in awe at their sincerity, the loyalty, the lengths to which people will go to win the favor of their divine.

Luther confessed, "I cannot. I cannot atone for my sin; I cannot earn heaven; I cannot make things right. I cannot please God. I cannot."

This would indeed be a dark and dreary message if those words were the final thought I had to share with you. Thankfully, there is more to be said; there is good news to be delivered. God's good news is this: "While we were yet sinners, Christ came to die for us." Another passage underscores God's good news when it says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life which comes through Jesus Christ." God's good news assures, "By grace are you saved, through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior." Luther was led to believe, as millions believe, as you need to believe: even though we sinners cannot fix things, God can. In other words: "Although I cannot, God can and God does."

quoted from a sermon by Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus

Are you afraid to know who Jesus really is because you will be put "out of the synagogue"? (John 12:36-43)

Are you afraid to know who Jesus really is because you will be put "out of the synagogue"?

"While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
 
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
 
Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.-- John 12:36-43 ESV