Are you Really Saved?

A few months ago, I wrote an article, Not Everyone Goes to Heaven, in which I discussed the misconception that everyone will go to heaven when they die. In revisiting that article, it occurred to me that there are some specific behaviors/beliefs that individuals may have about how to get into Heaven. Let me emphasize at the start that there is only one way to heaven. That is faith in Jesus Christ.

In theory, one could get to heaven if they led a perfect life here on earth. That is what Jesus did. For human beings, that is impossible. The concept of original sin arose when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. By their transgressions, we become like Adam. It is imparted to us. In other words, Adam is our representative. Think of it in terms of a sports metaphor. If an individual on a football team commits a foul, is that individual penalized? Not really, the whole team is penalized for the transgression of one. So we are on Adam’s team and his transgression is upon us.

What are some actions or behaviors that individuals believe will get them into Heaven? There are six of these behaviors that I have identified. There may be more but this will hopefully get you thinking.

First, we do not get into Heaven based on our parentage. Maybe your father was a prominent minister who won many people to Christ and always took you to church on Sunday. His faith does not cover you. Everyone must have their own faith. Paul told us in Phillippians 2:12 to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The emphasis here is the word “own.” It is your salvation that saves you, not the faith of others.

Second, and somewhat related. Salvation by proxy can be attempted. A living person is baptized on behalf of the physically dead in an attempt to get the deceased into heaven. Nowhere in the Bible is this practice mentioned. The Bible states baptism is for the remission of the sins of the individual. Another aspect of salvation by proxy is to pray for the deceased’s salvation. Again, this is not workable. It denies free moral agency and the individual responsibility God has for each individual.

Third, many individuals think they are a good person. “After all, I’ve made a positive impact on people and I’ve never kicked a dog. God will let me in.” While we think we are good, we cannot measure up by God’s holy standard. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this abundantly clear. “You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about” (CEV). Our salvation cannot be earned, it is a gift we must accept.

Fourth, “attending church will get me into heaven.” No amount of church attendance or lack of attendance will result in getting or losing salvation. However, when you become a Christian, you are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEV) reads “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” If we are a part of the Body of Christ we will have a desire to be in church for instruction and fellowship. After all, we are now a part of God’s Family and we should have a desire to fellowship with our family.

Fifth, I would point out that just because someone professes faith in Jesus Christ and is even baptized does not mean that person has been saved. Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. James 2:19 reads (CEV) “You surely believe there is only one God. That’s fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear.” Jesus even said “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” Matthew 7:21 (CEV).

Finally, Some apparently think that they can buy themselves into heaven by contributing to a church or other charitable organization. I once had a boss that felt this way. There was no visible evidence that he was a Christian, but I was told that he faithfully sent a tithe into his church. Salvation cannot be bought. It has already been paid when Jesus hung on the cross.

There can be many reasons for a false claim to salvation. Perhaps you were in a church that taught heretical theology. Maybe you were pressured by friends and family to take this step and your profession was to get them off your back. Our faith must be authentic.

A person can be sincere about their faith, but if there is no evidence of that faith, if they are not “new creations” they could be sincerely wrong. We can claim Jesus as Lord, but we must also obey Him.

All scripture unless otherwise noted is from the NASB translation.

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