Am I Going To Heaven?

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (for believers)

 

1. In answer to your first question, I think that depends on what you believe on the rapture / soul sleep.

2. The reason we don't off ourselves right now is because we are to be obedient to God's plan for our lives which does not include suicide. The Christian life is not really about us and pleasing ourselves and going to heaven. It is about pleasing God.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Hi Kathy.

Great topic. I wondered about that myself.

In 1 Thessalonians, it says:

4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

That would seem to say that we are in some type of sleep until Jesus returns to raise us. But I'm not sure about it.

Kim

 

Luke 23: 42-43

And he said(the thief, that is) unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into they kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Question answered? If not, I'll let you know when I get there.

 

We don't get saved so we can "go to heaven."

We repent and get saved, so we will cease to be offensive and repulsive to a Holy God who owns the universe, in which we are merely guests. God cleanses us with the blood of Christ and we get a white robe to wear, by grace, through faith.

We also get saved so we can witness to others, if necessary even with words, so they can come with us to heaven.

Ephesians says we are already "seated in the heavenlies with Christ."

So we are already in heaven. Swedenborg says a hypocrital "Christian" or "pastor" who is a wolf in sheep's clothing, disguised as an angel of light, has their "head in heaven and their heart in hell." They have "correct doctrine" but do not practice it, even practice secretly the opposite.

Salvation is by grace, not works. Eternal Rewards, e.g., the Quality of Your Eternity, is by WORKS, and NOT BY GRACE. We must work hard to earn rewards. Without rewards, heaven will be far less than it should be.

Bruce Wilkinson, in A LIFE GOD REWARDS, presents how heaven will not be the same for everyone. Some will deeply regret not having done more for God--pew potatoes will weep, at least briefly, for so many lost opportunities. God will wipe away all tears, but tears there will be.

Your deeds here on earth are designing the exact type of Eternity you will inhabit. Do nothing for God on earth, sit in a corner in heaven, wondering why so many others are so busy and important, whilst you barely made it and have little responsibility and adventure.

Have you considered this amazing reality. Pew Potatoes will object and proclaim that heaven is perfect joy. That is their way to avoid doing anything for God here on earth.

 

Okay, that's the first time I've ever heard that, and no offense to you, but that's just plain weird.

When the Bible speaks of us being "joint heirs with Christ" it's not speaking the truth? Some will be better than others? I think not.

I think some, including you, are going to be mighty surprised to see them "pew potatoes" sitting on the same row, at the feet of Jesus, as you.

 

Sorry Vaspers, but I've got to agree with Bro. Reed here. Just exactly where, in the Bible, did you read about THIS kind of eternal life?

Now, if you want to bring works into your salvation plan, then I might buy something like this, but that "ain't" the way it works. Our sins are COMPLETELY covered and we are pardoned strictly by the GRACE of Jesus Christ. It sounds like some kind of spin-off of a "works" oriented doctrine to me.

 

My good friends, it's all over the place in the Bible.

Paul says be very careful how you build upon the foundation of Christ, and he ran the race according to the rules so he could obtain the Prize, did not want to be a castaway...

...I don't have time to present all the verses, you enjoy yur own study with a concordance: look up "rewards" and such...

works for REWARDS, not for salvation!!!!

"Well done thou good and faithful servant" will not be said to any person who whispers a little Rick Warren prayer, then does nothing for God, but keeps his ticket to heaven in his back pocket...refusing to deny self or to witness...

so many many verses about storing up TREASURES IN HEAVEN...it's all in there...Bruce Wilkinson and Erwin Lutzer both did some research on this...Erwin even has a chapter (30 SECONDS AFTER YOU DIE--is this the book? I'm not sure) on "Tears in Heaven." Haven't got the book, but plan to buy it soon.

But you only need the Bible to see the Eternal Rewards System--why would God make Heaven equal for pew potatoes and for martyrs? Salvation is equal, yes. Not rewards.

Like Solomon had more earthly riches, due to his request for wisdom. It's similar to that. Not every Hebrew had equal responsibility or riches in Canaan. Think about it. It's a beautiful truth. Rewards are distributed according to works. That gives us joy, our light afflictions work for us a great reward in heaven if we endure with faith and love and good deeds.

Hallelujah! Praise God. Rewards every man according to his (not correct doctrine or creeds) DEEDS.

 

vaspers again:

I've moved this thread to BAPTIST THEOLOGY.

Sorry to thread jack. Forgive me. I got carried away. It is interesting, both this thread and the new one on:

Eternal Life vs. Eternal Rewards.