Question:

What must I do to go to Heaven when I die? Please no opinions. Please use the Bible, it is all we

have that is the truth.

Answer:

I really appreciate your desire for a biblical answer to your question. Far too many only want

confirmation that they are right and so they search for people who will tell them what they want

to hear. "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with

all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,

but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for

themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to

fables" (II Timothy 4:2-4).

As a child of God, I am restricted to only giving biblical answers to questions. Peter said, "If

anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11). So even if you had not asked

for a biblical answer, it would have been the same response.The Bible affirms that man is unable

to save himself. We just don't have the capacity to do so. "O LORD, I know the way of man is not

in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). There are several

reasons why this is so. First, the ways we might consider good are not. "There is a way that

seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). Have you read about

people who wander into the wilderness and lose their way? How is it that they can get lost when

they are at their current position by their own choice and effort? You see, when they were ready

to leave, the path they thought would take them back was not the right one. Instead of returning

they more hopelessly lost. They were too close to the problem to see the proper solution. It

required someone who wasn't lost to find them and show them the way back. Every man is lost

in sin (Romans 3:23), so we are unable to find the way out of sin for ourselves. Being all lost, we

are unable show others the way out.

A young man once asked Jesus a question similar to your question. "Now behold, one came and

said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said

to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to

enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall

not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false

witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you

will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying,

he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:16-22). The man sincerely

wanted to reach heaven, but he left in sorrow because what was asked of him was more than

what he was willing to give. If you truly desire heaven, then you must ask yourself how valuable

is it to you. What are you willing to give to possess it? Because what God wants of you is your

all.

"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to

inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So

he answered and said," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your

soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" And He

said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live"" (Luke 10:25-28). As you

continue reading in Luke, you will find that the lawyer wasn't happy with the answer he gave to

Jesus' question. He wanted an answer that made him feel justified. Instead the answer made him

feel inadequate. Jesus told us, "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you

are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"

(Luke 17:10).

Many are willing to go to heaven if it is convenient. But if it is not on their way, well, ...In

reality, the difficult part of salvation, the obtaining forgiveness for our sins, the part that we are

unable to handle, was accomplished by the Son of God. God has stated, "without shedding of

blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). It could not be the blood of just anything or

anyone. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (Hebrews

10:4). We have been made holy (sanctified) by the sacrifice of God's own Son. "By that will we

have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every

priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take

away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, ..." (Hebrews 10:10-

13). Jesus died on our behalf, even though none of us deserved the favor. "For when we were

still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates

His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then,

having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when

we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having

been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation"

(Romans 5:6-11).

Even more wondrous is that the gift was offered to everyone. "He died for all, that those who

live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (II

Corinthians 5:15). You see God doesn't place one person above another. God wants everyone to

be saved. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is

longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to

repentance" (II Peter 3:9).

Yet, even though salvation is offered to everyone, Jesus still warns that few will actually be

saved. "Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, Strive

to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able"

(Luke 13:23-24). People can desire the salvation that God wants them to have and yet still be

unable to receive it. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that

leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult

is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). The problem

lies with men and not with God. God wants men to be saved and He expects men to receive His

gift. Many people want God's gift, but they want it on their own terms. Somehow, man has

decided that if God, the giver of Life, sets the terms, then it is no longer a freely given gift.

To illustrate how foolish this idea is, let us turn to the record of Israel's conquering of the city of

Jericho. God told Israel that Jericho was their's. "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its

king, and the mighty men of valor" (Joshua 6:2). At the time of this statement, Israel had done

nothing. God was freely giving them the city as a gift. But as you continue reading, you find that

God required the Israelites to do several things, such as marching around the city many times,

being quiet and shouting at the appropriate time. Did this mean that Israel earned Jericho? Of

course not! Marching and shouting did nothing toward conquering Jericho, but it did show their

faith and and willingness to obey God's commands.

It is no different in our own salvation. God has already given us salvation before we even start,

but He has asked us to demonstrate our faith and willingness to obey His commands. As Jesus

said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). God doesn't want partial

obedience. He expects us to obey all of His commands. "Teaching them to observe all things that

I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20).As we mentioned, God requires man to believe. "But

without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Yet such faith doesn't just happen, it is developed from an understanding of God's book. "So then

faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). This is why the the

New Testament is referred to as the gospel (good news) of salvation. "For I am not ashamed of

the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans

1:16). Hence, when we read of a jailer asking Paul a question similar to yours, he was told to

believe and then he was taught so that he might have something in which to believe. "Then he

called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them

out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him

and to all who were in his house" (Acts 16:29-31).

Faith is not just an outward statement, but it is a sincere conviction. "But God be thanked that

though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you

were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Romans

6:17-18). The sincerity of belief leads to action, as James discusses at length. "What does it

profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If

a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in

peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body,

what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will

say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show

you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons

believe--and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do

you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him

for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by

works, and not by faith only" (James 2:14-24).

But keep in mind that though God requires faith and effort on our part, it is not our faith or our

effort that saves us, but the death of Jesus. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and

that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are

His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that

we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Saving faith cannot remain personal. It must be a conviction that leads to telling others about

your belief. "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that

is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and

believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the

heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"

(Romans 10:8-10). If we do not trust God enough to stand up before men and state our belief in

Jesus, if we are too ashamed of our Lord, we will not reach heaven. "Therefore whoever

confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But

whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven"

(Matthew 10:32-33).

The Psalmist once said, "The sum of Your word is truth" (Psalm 119:160). In other words, truth

is found by taking everything God has said on a matter. Too often men find an portion of an

answer to their question and they stop without checking to see if there is anything more on the

matter.

In regard to salvation, Peter told one audience, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your

sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord"

(Acts 3:19). Repentance is the turning away from sin and turning your life toward God. If you

think a moment about this, it makes sense that God requires men to repent (Acts 17:30). It is our

sins which has gotten us into trouble with God. "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That

it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you

from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah

59:1-2). It makes no sense to ask the Lord to forgive our sins while simultaneously continuing to

practice them. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Romans 6:1-2). Instead,

Jesus warns that either we repent of our sins or we will perish in them (Luke 13:3).

Repentance is more than being sorry for committing wrongs in the past. Instead, sorrow is the

spur which causes people to change their ways. "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading

to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this

very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what

clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what

vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (II Corinthians 7:10-

11). Repentance is changing the course of your life and working to right past wrongs. Paul

"declared ... that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance" (Acts

26:20). Of course all sins are not repairable, but an honest attempt should be made to right errors

of the past. As an example, if money was stolen, it should be returned. Or, if lies were told, the

truth should be revealed.

In Peter's first gospel sermon, a question similar to yours is asked by Peter's audience.

"'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you

crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said

to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to

them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission

of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your

children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many

other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.'

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls

were added to them" (Acts 2:36-41). Peter's answer to the question "What must we do?"

contained two requirements of God: repent and be baptized.

The requirement to be baptized is nothing new; Jesus told his disciples much the same. "He who

believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark

16:16). In a parallel account, Jesus tells the disciples to make additional disciples through

baptism. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in

heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that

I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew

28:18-20).

Perhaps you wonder why baptism, being immersed in water, is so important to salvation. Paul

addresses this question in Romans 6:3-7. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were

baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him

through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the

Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the

likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this,

that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we

should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin" (Romans 6:3-7).

Baptism's importance comes from what it represents. Entering the water represents Christ's death

on the cross. Being under water remembers Jesus' burial in the tomb. Rising from the water

memorializes Jesus' resurrection from the grave. In addition, baptism represents ideas on a more

personal level. To the believer, entering the water represents the believer's death to sin. Being in

the water symbolizes the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16). Arising from the water represents

the taking on of a new life. Finally, baptism also represents to the believer his hope of being

raised like Christ to eternal life. How can such powerful symbolism be dismissed?

In essence, baptism gives the believer contact to the blood of Christ. Remember that it is Christ's

death which saves mankind and it is in baptism that we join ourselves with Christ. "For you are

all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ

have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). Since baptism brings us into contact with the saving

blood of Christ, baptism saves. "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal

of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21). It isn't the water that saves, but the sincere obedience of the believer

to the demands of God which gives him access to God's gift of salvation. When Paul wanted to

know what he must do, he was told, "Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all

things which are appointed for you to do" (Acts 22:10). Three days later, Ananias came with the

answer, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling

on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

While being taught about Jesus, the Ethiopian eunuch did not ask about getting to heaven.

Instead, he wanted to know what prevented him from doing what needed to be done. "Then

Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they

went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What

hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you

may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he

commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,

and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught

Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:35-

39). Notice from this one example, how much of what we discussed is illustrated. The eunuch

heard the word of God explained to him by Philip. He desired to do what he had learned from

Philip. The eunuch declared his belief in Jesus as God's Son, showing both belief and a

willingness to confess his belief before others. And finally, he was baptized in water. The eunuch

continued his journey with joy knowing he obeyed the Lord's commands.

I could ask the same question of you today: What is stopping you from being baptized? "For He

says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you."

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation'" (II Corinthians 6:2).