The Key to Heaven

**Waqar Daniel** Thu 24 Jan 2008, 8:11 pm

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is LORD", and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you cofess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anoyone who trusts in Him shall not be put to shame." (Romans 9-11)

To go to heaven and to be with Jesus Christ, we need a key to heaven and that key is known as Salvation. The key is always with us as it is a free gift of God extended to everyone, whoever believes in Jesus Christ as LORD and believes in crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are entitled to the key. But the question here is - Is it so simple? Do we need this only?

Yes it is simple but we have to leave our sinful desires and nature to hold on to the key. Getting the Key to Heaven is not difficult but holding on to the the key is the real issue. For, when we are not alert, satan would steal that key away from us or make us throw away the key.

However, some people think that because they are saved they will go to Heaven anyway (doesn’t the Bible say that?) and they go back to their sinful lives. The Key is not being carried with them and therefore they cannot gain entry into Heaven when they die.

Others carry The Key in their pocket – with them but out of sight. These people are often called ‘Sunday Christians’ They are still saved, and will still get into Heaven, but are more likely to ‘put The Key down’ and therefore not have it when they die.

Yet there are many committed Christians who proudly hang The Key around their neck for the world to see. These people are more aware of their commitment and therefore less likely to put down The Key. They would normally have The Key on them when they die.

As soon as we receive The Key (Salvation) Satan tries to turn us away from God and back onto his path to death. He does this with subtle comments like: “Oh God is love and He will forgive me in the end - How can he put His creation in hell - There is no hell - Okay I will sin this time and ask for forgiveness later on when I will pray”.

Satan always tries to get people to move The Key from their necks to their pockets, and then out of their pockets and off their persons altogether. Of course, we don’t know the day nor the hour when we will die so if we listen to Satan we are most unlikely to have The Key on us at that time.

You can put The Key down (backslide) and then pick it up later (repent), but unless you do that before you die you will not be saved and will not spend eternity in Heaven. The only problem is in the timing – do you know when you are going to die? If you died today, do you know where you would go? Where is your key?

thirsty Fri 25 Jan 2008, 1:35 pm

So true as we all claim to have the key to heavens but we lose it due to our own choices. I do agree that many believe that once saved is aways saved. It is not true as Bible tells us that we have to live according to the commands of God and His will. His will for us to live a blameless life.

Thank you and God bless

WordofLife Fri 25 Jan 2008, 1:44 pm

I have read many articles and heard many Pastors saying that once we accept Jesus Christ, we are saved. It means that we do not lose our souls to satan. I believe in this because Jesus Christ is our Savior and He will guard us and save us no matter what our sin is. What do you say?

In Christ

lovemylord Fri 25 Jan 2008, 1:48 pm

I agree with you here that once we are saved by Jesus Christ, we are saved and we will not see hell. God forgives our sins forever and this is His love. I do not know why people wants us to believe that after believing in Jesus, there is still a chance that we may end up in heaven. Jesus made a promise and it stands forever.

In Christ

LivinginChrist Fri 25 Jan 2008, 1:51 pm

I do not agree with both of you we have to follow God's commands in the Bible even if we accept Jesus as our Savior. This is grace of God and not a permission to sin. I believe that even if we accept Jesus and do not do His will, we will pretty much land in hell.

In Christ

lisa1880 Fri 25 Jan 2008, 1:58 pm

I agree with you "LivinginChrist" that we need to follow God's commands as it makes us holy in the sight of God. We also have to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior but believeing only will not take us to heavens. Both things go side by side. There are many non-believers who believe that Jesus gave up His life and accept it as a great sacrifice. Will they also go to heavens? Absolutely not, they have believe in Jesus and do what Jesus asked us to do.

Jesus loves all

grandma Fri 25 Jan 2008, 2:01 pm

God cannot live with sin and we have to follow God's commands even if we accept Jesus as our Savior.

God bless everyone

saved Fri 25 Jan 2008, 2:04 pm

We are saved by faith and not by actions. i do not remember the reference but it is what the Bible says. Hope to read replies.

In Christ

AngelicSmile Fri 25 Jan 2008, 2:09 pm

I have little knowledge but as far as my Bible study goes, I believe that we have to believe in Jesus as Savior and follow His commands too. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior then it becomes obligatory on us to follow what He said. As Jesus Himself said that the path is narrow.

With Jesus' love

blessed4ever Fri 25 Jan 2008, 2:14 pm

I believe what the Bible says that we are under Grace and not under Law and this all Christianity is about.

In Christ

4luv Fri 25 Jan 2008, 2:26 pm

I agree that we are under Grace and not under law. Grace of God saves us and not the law. The Bible is very clear on the subject. Sorry I have to disagree with all those who say that by actions we are saved. The Bible does not say this.

God bless

FaithfulSon Sat 26 Jan 2008, 6:34 pm

The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. Isaiah 32:17

Righteous is the virtue of walking in God or in other words we have to follow God's commands and I am sorry to say that people are deceived in saying that once saved is always saved. We can fall if we turn our back to God and His commands.

God bess

**Waqar Daniel** Sat 26 Jan 2008, 7:24 pm

Thank you all for your replies. However, I feel that most of your misunderstood the article. But I do believe that "Once saved is always saved" is totally wrong.

Remember the words of Jesus,

...Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more (John 8:11)

Jesus forgave her sins as He forgives sins of everyone who believes that Jesus is LORD a Savior, but the second condition applies - Sin NO more

Salvation and Grace is NO license to sin. Rather Grace of God tells us not to sin.

For the GRACE of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "NO" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...(Titus 2:11-14)

God bless you all

Guest Sat 26 Jan 2008, 8:14 pm

Saved i think the reference you are referring to is Ephesians 2:8-10,
" For it is by Grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast....."
we are saved by believing in Jesus Christ and when we believe in Him we work according to God's will and we do what God has prepared for us in advance. For always doing good we need God's grace and that will be showered upon us if we walk according to His will and to know what is God's will for us we can refer to these verses:
" 1-Thes 4:3, and 5:18"
and we live according to this norm then we will be called Jesus' borthers and sisters as Jesus Himself said in Mark 3:35 " Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother"
this clearly tells us that we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as it is God who works in us to will and to act according to his good purpose. Phi. 2:12.
thus we must not believe in " Once saved is always saved".

servant Mon 28 Jan 2008, 2:34 am

I am outraged at this satanic teaching. It is truly the doctrine of the Devil. I have seen more souls go astray by listing to the false preacher who preach this sermon of Satan- Once Saved Always Saved. It is my passion to uncover the lie and to shed light on this false teaching. As I said before, Good works are the manifestation of salvation – the proof that you are saved. Although it is true that you can’t work your way into heaven, the good deeds you do after conversion show that your spirit has been regenerated by Christ, and the activity of the Holy Spirit is present. I have compiled a list of thirty two Scriptures that back up what the Bible really has to say on the once saved always saved deception! It is my solemn prayer that this list of Scriptures will bless all how believe in the truth. Servant

{ Ezekiel 18: verse 24 and verse 26 it says But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die. verse 26 If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it, because of the sin he has committed he will die.

{Luke 9:62} in the Amplified Bible Jesus said to him no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back to the things behind is fit for the kingdom of God.

2 peter 2:20-21 NIV Bible, If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

Hebrews 10:26-32 This scripture is also talking about a saved person. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that {sanctified} him, and who has insulted the Spirit of Grace?

Revelation 2:5 Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.

Without Holiness no one sees the Lord. {Hebrews 12:14}

{Matthew 7:21} Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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!

Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Matthew 10:22 says he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

{John 10:28:29}I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

1 John 3:9-10 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, so is anyone who does not love his brother.

1 John 2:4 He who says, "I know Him,'' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

Isaiah 7:9 says If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

James 4:4 for a moment. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.

Titus 1:16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.

2 Timothy 2:19 everyone who confesses the name of the lord {must} turn away from wickedness.
1 John 5:4 For everyone born of God overcomes the world.

Hebrews 10:39 But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery {Perdition} and are utterly destroyed.

Matthew 7:13-14 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 eternal life, and only a few find it.

Jude 4 -For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Colossians 2:8 Paul also talks about them. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teaching comes through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Romans 16:17-18 I urge you brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own {appetites}. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of {naïve people}.

John 15:18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is , you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

. Luke 6:46 Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say. John 14:15 If you love me you will obey what I command.

John 15:5-6 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 14:23 If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

Luke 13:24 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, Sir, open the door for us. But he will answer, I don’t know you or where you come from. 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! There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

forhisglory Mon 28 Jan 2008, 3:10 am

Okay Daniel, you created a monster, and I am so proud of you for doing so. I see allot of people are being deceived by this false statement. I was also, but as I look into God’s perfect word of truth. I can only look at it from His point of view. God is a Holy God and no one who does evil continuously will ever enter into God’s kingdom. We do not know when enough is enough for God, but throughout the Bible God is still the same yesterday today and forever. God hates sin and all who do wickedly will have their place in Hell. The doctrine of "Unconditional Eternal Security" states that once a person is saved and accepts the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, they can never be lost afterward... no matter what they might do. Any alternate view of this this belief is that it is the free will of man that determines his condition... even to the point of constant changing between the positions of being saved and lost. We know God is consistent and we therefore can predict and understand His reactions by reviewing scripture. Therefore, any doctrine that allows an individual to be inconsistent and / or unpredictable in their walk with Him contrary to His word would be absolute error. This "Unconditional Eternal Security" doctrine is very appealing because it allows the believer to serve God their way instead of serving God His way... This doctrine says NO to the question "Can a born again Christian cease to be a born again Christian? We know the answer to this question id YES because a believer can stop believing and a Christian can stop being a Christian by turning their back on salvation and be lost again by falling from grace. There are many instances in the bible where persons were within the grace of God, but went on to fall from grace becoming lost again... and God dealt with them severely even to the point of destroying them with no forgiveness). Here are a few examples: Lucifer was once without sin and walked perfectly within the grace of God... yet when he along with 1/3 of the angels rebelled against God, we see in Ezekiel 28:12-19 what the ultimate end was. Adam and Eve disobeyed God through transgression [disobedience] in Genesis chapter 3. Nadab and Abihu were sons of Aaron, Gods anointed who served as the first Preist of Israel after the captivity. They disobeyed God and we see in Leviticus 10:1-2 that they were destroyed by fire. Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled making a decision to turn away from God and were eternally destroyed. In Chronicles 10:13-14 we see Saul died for his transgressions he committed against the Lord, even against the Word of the Lord. In these few instances we see no account of a faithful child of God taken home to be with the Lord despite their transgressions against God. Throughout scripture we see the special wrath of God for those who turn away after coming to know the light of the truth - EXODUS 32:33 ...but if your heart turn away, you shall surely perish... EZEKIEL 3:21-22 when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits inequity, he shall die in his sin... MATTHEW 5:13 Jesus spoke of the salt that has lost its flavor, to what it was good for? Only to be cast out. forhisglory I love you