AboutRev. Jay N. Forrest Expertise I can answer any question dealing with Christian mysticism, such as questions concerning the awakening call, the purgative way, the illuminative way, the unitive way, spiritual experiences, spiritual direction, spiritual disciplines, prayer, ecstasy, the rule of life, internal monasticism, asceticism, mystical theology, devotional helps, chanting, meditation, contemplation, hesychasm, and more.
Experience
Rev. Jay N. Forrest is an ardent student of Christian mysticism in all three branches of Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant). Rev. Jay Forrest has been a Charismatic minister for over 20 years, pastoring churches in Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona, and New Mexico. He is the author over over 150 articles and poems and several books. He currently publishes a monthly e-letter entitled Mystic Messenger and also offers a podcast called Mystic Secrets of the Bible. See his website for more information.
Question As Christians, we believe in the RESURRECTION, not in the hypothesis of reincarnation. But Gnostic Christianity affirms reincarnation rather than resurrection.Do we go into heaven if we merely believe in Jesus? If that one just believe in Jesus so that they can go to heaven, isn't that out of fear and greed? Does this mean devotion to other religions like Kabbala/Buddhism won't lead you to heaven? Why it seems modern Christianity focus so much on faith in Jesus itself and not moral/relationship building? Shouldn't we love Jesus as much as we love others?
Answer Hi Clement,
Not all who claimed to be Gnostics believed in reincarnation (eg. Origen, Clement). But it became a distinctive belief in contrast to the orthodox.
Now to your question, "Do we go into heaven if we merely believe in Jesus?" The answer depends on whether you accept the Bible as God's word. "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8 ).
The real question is what is Biblical faith. James teaches us that there are two kinds of faith, one of the head and one of the heart. This is why even demons believe (James 2:19). They have head faith, they agree that there is one God. But they don't have heart faith. Heart faith is the will's surrender to God and the truth of God in absolute trust.
This eliminates people who "just believe in Jesus so that they can go to heaven." Repentance must come before true belief, and repentance is nothing less than turning from a self-centered life to a God-centered life. In repentance you make Jesus Lord, in believing you make Him Savior. You cannot have Jesus as Savior until you have Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9).
As far as people in other religions, "God will judge those outside" the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 5:13). Can they be saved? God only knows and He is the judge of that. "For what have I to do with judging those outside?" (1 Corinthians 5:12) All I can say is that they have no firm promise of salvation. Only Christians are assured of salvation through Christ (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Modern Christianity focus on faith in Jesus because it has a misguided concept of faith. The modern concept is mental assent to doctrinal truth. All that is required is a mental agreement. Modern Christianity does not teach what the Bible clearly teaches, "unless you repent, you will all perish" (Luke 13:3, 5; cf. Mark 6:12; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30).
Faith is the will's reception of truth. Faith is the trusting surrender of the will to the person of Christ. A faith that makes no difference in your life, makes no difference to God. Real faith will produce works. As Paul said, "the only thing that counts is faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6).
The easy believism and cheap grace that is preached today is not the Gospel of Christ, but another Gospel. Even Luther was a better theologian than many today, he said, "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone."
There are a few of us who still hold to the radical Gospel of Jesus Christ, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" and "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 9:23; Luke 10:27).
