Expert: Onaga Thomas - 7/27/2006

Question
Is it true protistants believe that if you do not believe in Jesus then you will not go to Heaven? I always thought Heaven was open to good people but now I hear you go to Hell regardless of whether or not you are a good person just because you don't believe! My friend is a stricter christian than me and she believes this, so she thinks most of our friends will go to Hell as most of them are not religious. They are still good people, how do I worship a God who would do that to them?

Answer
I am not a Protestant so I don't know all their beliefs.  Heaven is a place where everyone wants to be but on this time side of life some are not willing to obey God and do what He tells them to do to get there.  There is the whole crux of our relationship with God, will we as humans submit to His will?  Those who believe in the Bible know that they need to obey God's commands in order to recieve heaven.  Are going to heaven is not based on what we do (being a good person, good deeds, good attitude) all of which are nice and Christ-like, but if along the way of us being good we reject Jesus Christ, what good will that do us.  Jesus says "unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3-5)he also said that "he who believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:15-16).  See, Jesus told us how to recieve salvation(which adds us to the Lord's Church and also makes us citizens of heaven)but in order for his commands to become true in our lives we need to follow His commands.  So Stacey continue to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24)and understand that God does not send people to hell, he gave us free-will, which means we have the power to choose life or death.  Life is the eternal life offered by Jesus to those who believe in Him as the Son of God (Acts 8:32-40).  Death is eternal separation from God caused by sin, when we refuse except Jesus' offer of baptism which remits our sins (Acts 2:38).  If your friends would but hear the Word (Rom. 10:17), believe that word, repent of their sins (Luke 13:3), confess that Jesus is the Son of God(Acts 8:32-40), and be buried in water (baptism)for the remission (sending away) of their sins (Acts 2:38)the Lord will add them to the Church (Acts 2:47).......Salvation is a free gift offered by Jesus to the world when he died for it, but we have to respond to it biblically in order to recieve it.  Then His eternal home (Heaven) prepared for us since the foundation of the world will be our eternal home as well.  Have a blessed day

Onaga