eric bauman
Heaven is Free

The popular belief of today is that a person has to earn heaven by doing good works. This teaching is not in the Bible. The theme that runs through the bible, is that heaven is a free gift from God. The gift is available to every person on earth. There is no one alive that God would not let into heaven. There is no sinner so vile that God would not accept them. The only condition that God makes, is that the person accepts Jesus Christ as their savior. The way to accept Christ is by believing that he died for everyone's sins. The thing that keeps people out of heaven is sin. The only payment for sin that God will accept is the shed blood of his son Jesus Christ. There is no other way into heaven. Good works do not pay off bad works.
Luke 22
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Matthew 26
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Romans 5
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
All anyone's good works can do is get them blessings in this life and rewards in heaven. A person can do good works all their life and go to hell when they die. In fact hell is full of people right now that were good moral people. There is a saying that says, the road to hell is paved with good intensions. I think this is what it is talking about. Peoples good works mean nothing to God. People will say, I go to church every Sunday, I have been baptized, I had communion, I live a moral lifestyle, etc. the list goes on and on. Good works only mean something to man. People try to make themselves equal to God or even above him. People think they must work to earn heaven, and say look what I did. They put God into debt with them. They did the work and now they are owed salvation, this is pleasing to peoples egos. Good works can never take away sins.
Romans 3
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ephesians 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
A lot of times people will add things to the gospel of salvation. They will say that Jesus saves, but they add something else to it. As if Christ's pure innocent blood was not good enough. They will add good works to salvation, or say only certain people are chosen by God, or some other thing to earn heaven. This is straight from the pit of hell. Satan does not want anyone to get to heaven, so he will pervert the clear message of salvation. Satan will create as many roads to hell as he can, to appeal to as many people as he can. There are endless religions all over the world that do just that. There are many variations on Christianity like Calvinism, Catholicism, Jehovah's witness, etc.. None of these religions can get anyone to heaven. There is only one way to heaven, that is Jesus Christ. In the below parable Jesus refers to himself as the straight gate.
Matthew 7
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
John 14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Romans 4
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
There you have it! Heaven is free to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. Good works can not save you, only Jesus finished work on the cross can save you. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I suggest you do so now. If you wait until tomorrow, you may never get the chance. God Bless.