Tag: faith only

Heaven Or Not?

Neal Pollard

I have been seeing this 15-second commercial on TV recently. It is a picture of the sky above the clouds and the words, “When you die, are you going to heaven or not? You can know for sure. Heaven or not.net.” 

Purchasing commercial time is very expensive. Someone is dedicated, and the subject matter could not be more important! As an ’80s song put it, we are living in a material world. Many do not think deeply enough about what happens after this life. A website dedicated to the very subject had me hopeful.

Visiting the website, I was impressed with the number of Scriptures used and the effort to use the Bible for every single point made. They cover the biblical explanation for our origin, the reliability of Scripture, the problem of sin, the sacrifice of Christ, and the need of salvation. I say biblical because they cite Scripture in each of these subject areas.

Please believe me when I say that I want to endorse and commend this website. I do not know who is behind it, other than the site “God Life,” a well-put-together website full of resources. But there were at least two erroneous statements made which contradict what the Bible teaches.

First, they claim that we are born with sin. Introducing the problem of sin, they write, “That makes it (heaven, NP) a problem for us…because we sin. It is our heritage. We are born with it.” We are born into a sinful world. Eventually, every one of us make the choice to sin. Their next statement, Romans 3:23, is correct. But it is different to say that “all have sinned” and that we are all born with sin. Ezekiel 18:4,20 state the truth that the son does not “bear the punishment of the father’s iniquity.” Teaching that we are born in sin is communicating the false idea that we inherit Adam’s sin. We surely inherit a fallen world because of his choice (Rom. 5:12), but as surely do not inherit his guilt. Our guilt comes through our own accountability. A newborn or small child is not accountable.

Second, their suggested remedy for addressing our sin problem in order to go to heaven is one of the most egregious religious errors formulated by religious people: “the sinner’s prayer.” They urge the reader to pray, “Dear God…I know I have sinned against you. Please forgive me.
I receive Jesus…your only Son…right now as Savior of my life…having died to pay for my sins.
Thank you for forgiving my sins…and for my new life.I pray this prayer in Jesus’ holy name, Amen!” 

They are right to say that going to heaven means “you have to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and acceptance,” but wrong to suggest something that we have no biblical teaching or example for. The very first time Jesus was preached and the listeners asked what they should do, Peter could have given the counsel in the paragraph above. But he did not. He called for repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38), and those who gladly received the word did just that (Act 2:41). Please consider Mark 16:16, John 3:3-5, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:1-4, Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 4:4-6, Colossians 2:12, Titus 3:5, and 1 Peter 3:21. 

All these passages show us that receiving God’s gift of forgiveness and acceptance goes beyond saying a prayer. It requires doing what people did in the first-century, when the gospel began to be preached and people first sought to do what they were taught. We need biblical example and teaching to adequately answer these sincere people’s powerful question. 

Deathbed Repentance?

Neal Pollard

“From the stirrups to the ground,
Mercy I asked for, mercy I found”
That is a distorted view of grace,
Which seeks God only in death’s face.

It cheapens that which cost Him much,
To use Him only as a deathbed crutch.
Unlike the seeker at his eleventh hour,
Who sincerely reaches for His saving power,

The hardened sinner who in last resort
Hedges his bets for some eternal life support.
So many never reach a deathbed sound in mind,
Or care for His will ’til their death warrant’s signed.

While God is long-suffering, wanting all to be saved,
The majority spend their lives to sin’s power enslaved
They only think heaven when earth’s living is through,
But an afterthought gesture will just not do.

Scripture says “come now,” not “wait til tomorrow,”
So many delayed to their own regret and sorrow.
Instead of relegating God to a last-ditch recourse,
Submit to Him now, you He’ll publicly endorse.

Deathbed repentance is not found in His Word,
No matter what men from their wisdom you’ve heard.
Obey from the heart what His doctrine requires,
Let His word be your truth, let all others be liars.

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Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Neal Pollard

The phrase is abused by those in denominations. With it, they suggest that such is the totality of one’s responsibility in order to receive salvation. It is synonymous with the idea of the “faith only” doctrine of Christendom. Yet, it is biblical to the core. Observe.

   “Accept.” Jesus says, “He who rejects Me…has one who judges him” (John 12:48). We accept Jesus when we humbly receive the implanted word (James 1:21). 1 Timothy 1:15 says, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” We must accept Jesus’ will as well as the assertions He makes. The question is, “Have we fully accepted Jesus at the point of our belief in Him?” No! He commands us to repent (Luke 13:3-5) and be baptized (Mark 16:16). Refuse those commands and you have not accepted Jesus. Can we take only part of Him and be whole?

     “Accept Jesus as your…Savior.”  He came to this world for that purpose. Before Jesus’ birth, Joseph was told, “You shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Jesus is identified as the Savior throughout the epistles. 2 Timothy 1:5 and Titus 3:5 both say, “He saved us” by His mercy, purpose and grace. Salvation is the common need (Rom. 3:10,23) and there is no other way but Jesus to meet it (Acts 4:12). We cannot stop at accepting who Jesus is, but must further accept what Jesus has done.

“Accept Jesus as your Personal Savior.” The Bible teaches that Jesus’ redemptive work at Calvary was for the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2). Yet, will the whole world be saved? No! In fact, most will not be saved (Matt. 7:13-14). Even some religious folks will be lost (Matt. 7:21-23). Therefore, accepting Jesus must be done at the personal level! I must act upon the saving knowledge of Jesus. As I will be held personally accountable for my life (2 Cor. 5:10), I cannot blame my parents, children, friends, people at church, people in the world, or even my mate for my disobedience. In my own mind, I must accept what the Bible says about Jesus and do what Jesus says do. Nobody can do that for me (Rom. 10:9).

The baggage surrounding the phrase is most unfortunate. The facts, as presented here,  must be understood. It is not as our religious friends teach, who share that as the totality of our responsibility, and yet it is true that each of us–while we have breath in the body and the hope of heaven–must accept Jesus as our personal Savior!

By The Name of Jesus