Myth-busting: What must I do to go to heaven? (according to the Bible)

Myth #1: Hell is for really wicked people like Hitler and serial-killers, everyone else goes to heaven.

Truth: We all default toward being enemies of God because of a rebellious disposition in our hearts.

The good news is that we all have the opportunity to be reconciled with God through the sacrifice which Jesus made on the cross.

Scripture: “You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Col 1:21,22)

Myth #2: If my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds, I should be fine.

Truth: In the history of humanity, no one has ever measured up to the standard of God’s righteousness.

This is why Jesus had to die on the cross – to repay the debt of our sins, which we could never repay on our own.

Scripture: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” (Rom 3:23,24)

Myth #3: It doesn’t really matter what you believe because all religions essentially teach the same thing.

Truth: There is only one correct answer to the question of – What must I do to be right with God?

It sounds friendly and inclusive to say that all religions answer this question the same way, but this ignores the obvious fact that they do not. Forgiveness of sins is not possible without the sacrifice of Jesus.

Scripture: “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”” (John 14:6)

Myth #4: I consider myself to be a Christian, and Christians go to heaven.

Truth: In order to be saved you must be born again.

God forgives us our sins and transforms us from the inside out when we put our faith in Christ. Ultimately we know we have been born again when we see this transformation in our hearts and in our actions.

Scripture: “Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."” (John 3:3)

In Summary:

Acknowledge – Don’t try and convince yourself, God or others that you are ‘good enough’ to deserve to go to heaven. Rather confess your sinfulness to God. Ask for his mercy. Hell is what you and I deserve for our sins but God is merciful if we own up to our sin.

Believe – “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever would believe in him would not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Don’t trust in your own abilities, trust in the Saviour whom God provided.

Continue – It is the one who endures until the end that will be saved. Salvation is not a ‘ticket to heaven’ that you get by saying a magical prayer. God has called you into a relationship with Him which you must walk all the days of your life. You will need to be in a healthy church community in which all are committed to growing in faith and holiness because the journey will get hard. You will be tempted away from what is right. Your faith will be tested.

There is a lot of fake Christianity out there, but only what is genuine will last. To be a real Christian is hard but it is rewarding. I agree with Paul:

“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Phil 3:8)