Imagine that you died today and were brought face to face with God at the gates of heaven. If He asked you the question, “Why should I let you into heaven?” what would you say?
Would you reply that you had lived a decent life, that you had done your best to keep the commandments, that you had tried to help people in need, that you had been an exemplary neighbor, attended church regularly, been baptized and paid your tithes?
What would you say if you were told, that based on responses like these, God would not and could not let you into heaven? Yet sadly, these answers are representative of the commonly held belief that good works will earn a person a place in heaven. But what does the Bible say? God’s Word says that it is “Not by works of righteousness we have done” that we are saved from the judgment of God (Titus 3:5). In fact, Isaiah 64:6 tells us that in God’s sight, “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” So, according to the Bible, if our hope for heaven is based on our good works, it is clear that we have no hope at all.
That being the case, how DOES one gain entry into heaven? Jesus states the matter very plainly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is not one of many ways to God the Father. He is the one and only way, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). If we do not go to Him and receive the salvation that He freely offers, then we must upon death, personally bear the wrath of God in hell forever (Rom. 5:9).
But, you might say, God is a God of love and mercy, He would never condemn anyone to hell who had tried to do their best. And you would be right — He doesn’t condemn anyone to hell. We condemn ourselves if we refuse to accept the only way into heaven authorized by Him — the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, left heaven and came into this world to save those who could never save themselves. As the God-Man, He kept the law of God that we could not keep, making Him the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
And what a sacrifice it was! Isaiah 52:14 says, “…His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness.” Why would Jesus suffer such an excruciating death when He could have called 10,000 angels at any moment and been delivered from His pain? Simply because He knew that it was only by the shedding of His blood that our sins could be forgiven, “…and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). He knew we were helplessly lost without the cross so He willingly died in our place, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus received what we deserved — death, and we received what He deserved — life everlasting. This was the great exchange!
Friends, won’t you turn from the errant teachings of Joseph Smith’s “restored gospel” where baptism, laying on of hands and good works are substituted for a true conversion experience? It is God’s will that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:3), but this can only be accomplished in His way (Rom. 10:9-10). When Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished,” He had finished through His death, an all-sufficient offering for sin — a perfect salvation. We cannot add to it nor do any good work to deserve it. We must simply believe it and receive it. This beautiful hymn says it well:
I heard the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray, find in Me thine all in all.
For nothing good have I, whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white, in the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
We at LifeLine Ministries are all former RLDS/CoC members who have found our way to the cross and have gratefully received the salvation that only Jesus can give. Our desire is that you may experience the peace and joy that comes from giving your life to Him. Won’t you pray this simple prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for loving me and coming to earth to show us the way. I believe you died in my place to pay the penalty for my sins and that you rose from the dead to give me eternal life. I want to turn from my sin and place my faith in you. Please come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Show me how to live and help me to follow you always. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, then you have been born again into God’s family and have the assurance of eternal life. “I write these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5: 13)