Is it really that easy to go to Heaven?

[Elijah John]

From another thread in response to this question:

Yes to the narrow gate, but how does one get through it?

In response, Tcg made this astute observation:

By joining the most popular religion in the world, it's the widest narrow gate known to mankind.

This is the verse from Jesus alluded to:

"For the gate is narrow, and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

-Have the millions of Evangelical Christians in the world who believe that Jesus died to "pay for" their sins, found the narrow gate and the hard road to life?

-What's so hard about believing that Jesus died to "pay for" your sins? Especially when millions are indoctrinated from childhood and by culture to believe just that?

-Is it really that easy? Simply to believe that Jesus died as a blood atonement for you in order to pave your way to Heaven? Or is something more, or something different needed to appropriate the Grace of God and get to Heaven?

[Elijah John]

What, not even a link to to the mother ship?.

No, no links for the time being, I was under the impression you specifically requested not to be linked to information.

If I have misunderstood feel fee to clarify on that point and I will consider linking you to some reference works on the subject.

Regards,


JW

That is my preference. But I don't mind the occasional link, as long as it is preceeded by supporting argument. In fairness, you usualy do provide supporting arguments.

As Marco would say, "go well".

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 25 by onewithhim]

I think what he's saying (and correct me, Tcg if I misunderstood) is that Trinitarian Christianity's salvation by belief alone, sola fida, cannot be the straight gate and the hard road to life which Jesus is referring to.

After all, how hard is it to beleive that "Jesus died to pay for one's sins"? Especially for the billions who have been brought up (indoctrinated) to believe this.

Is anyone saved at the moment they accept the message of Billy Graham (may he rest in peace) when attending one of his crusades? And if so, is that salvation irrevocable?

Maybe, but Jesus and even Paul seem to indicate there is a little more to salvation than simply "accepting Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior", i.e. believing the "right things".

Oh, ok. I didn't get Tcg's point at all. Thanks. And I agree. There IS much more to salvation than just believing. It is quite clear by the things Jesus, Paul and others state in the Scriptures.

How silly to think that one is saved at the moment they "come to the Lord" at one of Billy Graham's crusades. He didn't do anyone any favors with his luke-warm preaching. He was very concerned about tickling people's ears, and straddling the fence. (2 Timothy 4:3)

It's also clear from Scripture that a person can lose out on salvation even after they once had "become partakers of holy spirit and tasted the fine word of God and powers of the coming system of things." (Hebrews 6:4-6)