Do Good people go to Heaven? If so, why? And if not, why not?

Continuing our two-part series on “Do Good People Go to Heaven?” If ever there were an individual who would have qualified for heaven through his goodness, it would have been Nicodemus, a religious leader of Christ’s day.

By all human standards Nicodemus would have been a model citizen—strong in character, a man of integrity, and a sincere religious leader. It was to this good man that Jesus said, “You must be born again.” In other words, unless a man/woman is born again he will not even see the kingdom of God/heaven let alone enter it.

“You must be born again,” meant that Nicodemus, like everybody else, needed to be born spiritually (as well as physically) if he is to enter God’s heaven.

Once, after addressing a group of church workers, the famous evangelist Dwight Moody was confronted by an angry person. “Mr. Moody,” she said, “do you mean to tell me that I, an educated woman, taught from childhood in good ways, and all my life interested in the church and doing good, must enter heaven the same way as the worst criminal of our day?”

“No, madam,” said Mr. Moody, “I don’t. God does. He says everyone who would enter heaven, no matter how good they think they are, or how well educated, or zealous in good works, must be born again [that is, born spiritually].”

The difficult thing to grasp is that our sin has made us spiritually dead to God. This is why we all need to be reborn spiritually. To become a member of the human family, we were born physically. To become a member of God’s family, we need to be born spiritually. But how can we do this?

Contrary to what many people think, it isn’t by being good or through good works…or religion. It is simply by confessing our sinfulness to God and by believing that his Son, Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and by responding to his call to receive him into our heart and life as personal Lord and Savior.

If you’re not sure that you have been born again spiritually, you can be—right now—by sincerely praying a prayer such as the following:

“Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus, your Son, died on the cross to pay the consequences and penalty for all my sins. And, dear Jesus, I thank you for doing this for me. Please come into my life as Savior and Lord and help me to become the person you want me to be and to live always for you. Thank you for your forgiveness and the assurance that I will spend eternity with you in heaven forever.”

NOTE: For more information read “Born Again People” at: https://learning.actsweb.org/art_bornagain1.htm

1. John 3:3(NIV).

Do Good people go to Heaven, and if so, why, and if not, why not?

A Daily Encounter reader asks, “My aunts are of a non-Christian faith and have been good persons all their lives. They are elderly and I’d like to believe that they will be in Heaven. I talked to God about this yesterday. He did not speak directly back to me, but I felt that they would. God is a good and understanding God, and although not all of his children are believers, I think he will use his judgment when it comes to the end times as to who is, and who is not allowed in Heaven.”

Dear Friend: Thank you for your email and for your concern about your aunts. First, however, the only way to know and understand God’s plan for salvation and who qualifies for heaven is to know what his Word—the Bible—teaches, for God never acts contrary to his Word. Never. Furthermore, the issue is never what we feel or think but always based on what God says in his Word.

Second, sad to say no matter how good we are, our goodness doesn’t qualify us for God’s heaven. None of us is sinless no matter how good we are and because God is a God of absolute holiness, no sin or sinner can ever survive in his presence any more than a moth can survive in a flame. It just isn’t possible.

Third, God is also a God of absolute justice and therefore all sinners—no matter how small—must be judged, otherwise God wouldn’t be God. Because God IS God, the just judgment of all sin is death; that is, spiritual death which is actually eternal separation from a holy and just God in the place the Bible calls hell, whatever and wherever that may be.

Fourth, fortunately, God is also a God of absolute love. That’s why he sent his Son Jesus to die in our place on the cross to pay the just penalty for all of our sins. If being good, religious, sincere, or being anything else could have qualified us for getting into God’s heaven, Jesus would never have had to come to earth to die for our sins.

Fifth, to enter God’s heaven we have to be saved or delivered from sin’s consequences. That is, we need to be totally forgiven by God and cleansed from our sinfulness. All we need to do is: (1) believe that Jesus is the Son of God, (2) that he died in our place on the cross to pay the just penalty for our sins, (3) repent of [turn from] and confess our sinfulness to God and, (4) ask God for his forgiveness and accept and invite Jesus into our heart and life as our Savior.

For help to do this click on: https://learning.actsweb.org/invitation.htm

To be continued.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have made it very clear in your Word, the Bible, what we need to do to have our sins forgiven and how we can become qualified for entering your heaven. And thank you for your love in giving your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and making forgiveness and eternal life in heaven possible. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 14:6(NIV).

A headline in NYDailyNews.com reads, “Australian flood hero: Teen boy [Jordan] sacrifices life so that his younger brother could be rescued.” In the following article, Staff Writer, Sean Alfano, reports:

A teenage boy heroically sacrificed his life so that his younger brother could survive after floodwaters ravaged their Australian hometown. Jordan Rice, 13, alerted a truck driver to his mother, Donna, and 10-year-old brother, Blake, who were clinging to a tree in Toowoomba, where a 26-foot torrent of water blasted through the city, killing nearly 10 people on Monday.

The driver [Warren McErlean] tried to help Jordan, who couldn’t swim, first, but the teen told the man to rescue Blake instead.

Kyle Rice, the boys’ 16-year-old brother, who was not with the family at the time, said Jordan would do anything for his family. “Courage kicked in and he would rather his little brother live,” he said.

McErlean was able to rescue Blake, but when he went back to get the mother and older son, both had been swept to their deaths by the current.”²

We can’t help but greatly appreciate what Jordan did in order to save his brother. And what a graphic reminder this is of God’s great love for you and me when he gave his Son, Jesus, to die in our place on the cruel Roman cross to pay the penalty for all of your sins and mine.

As God’s Word, the Bible, says, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”³

Dear Reader, if you have never confessed your sinfulness to God and accepted his forgiveness and eternal life, I urge you to do this today while you have the opportunity. For help, please click on the Know God link below.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for giving your Son, Jesus, to die in my place to save me from the penalty of all my sins? And Lord Jesus because of your great love in giving your life to save me, please help me to always live for you and help bring others to you for your forgiveness and gift of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 15:13 (NLT).

2. Source: http://tinyurl.com/6c499l3

3. Romans 5:7-8 (NIV).

When one of my nephews was only five, he heard me talking about Christmas being the time when we celebrate Jesus Christ’s coming to earth. He wanted to know if Jesus would come back to earth again. I assured him that Jesus promised that he would come back again.²

According to Bible scholars the return of, or second coming of, Jesus Christ is called the Rapture which comes from the Latin word “Rapare” which means to take away or to snatch out.

Following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, he was “snatched away” and taken up to heaven. While Jesus’ disciples were standing there looking up in amazement, two angels appeared to them and said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”³

Jesus’ first coming to earth 2000 years ago is an undeniable fact of history. His second coming is just as certain. The critical issue is to be ready for Christ’s return. According to God’s Word here’s what will take place at the rapture: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we [true followers of Jesus] who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”⁴

Jesus is coming again just as he went. It could be today. He said that he would come at an hour when we do not expect him.⁵

To be absolutely sure you are ready for the rapture be sure to accept God’s invitation for forgiveness and his gift of eternal life. To do so click on the “God’s Invitation” button below or for further help click on the “Know God” button or on: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, again I thank you for the promise of Christ’s return. Thank you for your great salvation and the promise of a home in Heaven for all who believe in and have accepted you as their Savior. Help me to be sure I am ready today for Christ’s return by having repented of my sins, asked for and accepted your forgiveness and received Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 24:44(NIV).

2. See John 14:3.

3. Acts 1:11 (NIV).

4. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NIV).

5. See Matthew 24:44.

Sometime later came disaster. In the Duke’s own realm his chief servant plotted to overthrow the Duke and take his place. He was subsequently caught and dismissed.

Eaten up with resentment, the servant vowed to get even with the Duke. Remembering the Duke’s priceless gift to the King of England, he went to the British Museum in London to find it. When no one was in sight, he climbed over the barrier, picked up this priceless treasure and smashed it into a thousand pieces.

“Save every piece,” the King said when hearing of the tragedy. “This is my most treasured gift. We’ll search for someone who can repair it no matter what the cost.” Eventually, a man was found who, with painstaking skill, sorted each broken fragment, and meticulously placed it back where it belonged.

Though I cannot vouch for its authenticity, this story offers a graphic illustration of God’s dealing with mankind. Biblical accounts tell of an angel who lived in heaven. Second only to God, he was brilliant, beautiful, and majestic. His name was Lucifer, son of the morning. He, too, had a problem with pride. Plotting to overthrow God, he said, “I will ascend into heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will set enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will make myself like the Most High.”¹

Lucifer, now identified as Satan, the Devil, was caught and dismissed from his pinnacle of power and cast out of heaven.² Filled with bitter resentment, he was determined to strike back at God. This is when he changed to a being filled with evil and determined to destroy the apex of God’s creation—mankind. He did this by causing mankind to sin and consequently be separated from a God of purity and holiness—in whose presence no sinner could ever survive.

But because God is also a God of infinite love he sent his Son, Jesus, to save broken humanity by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and mine, so we could be freely forgiven and placed back into God’s “masterpiece” of creation.

When Jesus healed all the sick who came to him, and forgave the prostitute, the thief, the despised tax collector and all who asked for forgiveness, he was picking up the broken pieces of his creation and lovingly placing them back into God’s master design. All were of infinite value to him.

And when God found me, another piece of broken humanity—a fallen, lost sinner—he picked me up, forgave my sin, healed my spirit, and placed me back into his great plan. Today, Christ the Savior is still seeking the lost and calling young and old alike everywhere to come to him for forgiveness, to receive his gift of eternal life, and to be placed back into his divine plan. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,” Jesus said, “and I will give you rest.”³

Christ’s invitation includes you too, dear reader. Today he is calling you to come to him for forgiveness, wholeness and the gift of eternal life. This indeed is the world’s greatest treasure.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you gave your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save me from the consequences of my sins and to forgive me, and thereby place me back into your master plan for my life. I confess that I am a sinner and, believing that your Son, Jesus, died to pay the penalty for all my sins, I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Please help me to become the person you want me to be and always live to faithfully serve you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed this prayer and genuinely meant it, please go to www.actsweb.org/decision.php to let us know and we will send you a free copy of the eBrochure, “How to Grow.”

Note: For this complete article and more help go to: http://tinyurl.com/greatest-treasure. This website includes a photo of the Portland Vase.

1. Isaiah 14:13-14 (NIV).

2. Isaiah 14:12,15.

3. Matthew 11:28(NIV).

The word “gospel” means good news—it is the greatest news in all the world—it is the Good News of God’s salvation, without which mankind would be doomed for eternal damnation and separation from God, the author of all love and life.

But why is the gospel God’s Good News?

First, the gospel is not a message about religion but a message about God’s eternal love and purpose for all mankind. Religion wants to fix us from the outside in. God wants to fix us from the inside out. The first can become an impossible burden. The latter is what brings freedom.

Also, it’s important to realize that no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do God loves us with an everlasting love and has a wonderful purpose for our lives—for this life and the next. As Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”² And again, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”³

Second, the gospel is a message about sin, something we are all guilty of. As the Bible says, “We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard.”⁴ Sin, however, is not only doing harmful acts. It is anything that falls short of the standard of perfection that God envisioned for us. This includes an unforgiving spirit, pride, jealousy, mixed motives, etc. Most of us, too, are guilty of sins of omission; that is, not doing what we know we should and could do.⁵

However, a common misconception about God is that he is out to punish us for our sins. The fact is we bring sin’s punishment on ourselves because sin has its own natural consequences. If we try to break the universal law of gravity, for instance, we can’t. It will break us. Neither can we break God’s universal moral law. When we try to do so, it breaks us. And besides its painful effects in this life—suffering, sorrow, sadness, sickness and spiritual death—its ultimate and tragic consequence is eternal death and separation from God.⁶

Third, the gospel is a message about God’s remedy. Because sin has separated or disconnected us from God, we have been left with a “God-shaped” vacuum or spiritual emptiness within. As St. Augustine put it, “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” The world’s many religions are all evidence of man’s endless search to find God and fill this vacuum. However, because God loves us so much, he sent his own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament.⁷ Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the consequence of, and ransom price for, our sins—death. Thus, Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. He is the only way back to God and the only door to eternal life.⁸

Finally, the gospel is a summons to faith and repentance. If you were found guilty of a serious crime and were condemned to death, would you accept a free unconditional pardon, if offered? Because Jesus Christ died on the cross in your and my place, God now offers you complete acquittal, forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life. All you need to do is confess and repent of [turn way from] your sinful actions, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for your sins, and invite him into your life as Savior and Lord.

The following prayer will help you do this. “Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs I have done and the sins that I have committed. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me for all my sins and I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Savior and Lord. I commit and trust my life to you. Please give me the desire to be what you want me to be and to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your forgiveness and free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed this prayer and genuinely meant it, please click on www.actsweb.org/decision.php to let us know and we will send you a copy (without charge) of the eBrochure, “How to Grow.”

NOTE: This article is condensed from, “Godspell” on our ACTS web site at: http://tinyurl.com/4896egr

1. Romans 1:16 (NIV).

2. John 3:16 (NIV).

3. John 10:10 (NIV).

4. Romans 3:23.

5. James 4:17.

6. Romans 6:23.

7. See Ephesians 2:8-9.

8. See John 14:6 and Romans 5:8.

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I have read that, back in the 19th century, when many people from Ireland were seeking passage to move to the New World, a young boy who didn’t have the fare secretly boarded a ship as a stowaway. At sea the ship ran into an iceberg and began to sink. When the boy realized what was happening, he came out of hiding and rushed to the deck only to see the captain taking the last seat in the last lifeboat. In the tradition of the sea the captain got out of the lifeboat and gave his seat to the boy. The last thing the captain said to him was, “Never forget what’s been done for you.”

In the years ahead the boy grew up to be a very successful man. When asked what was the secret of his motivation, he said, “Whenever I begin to doubt myself or let up from what I ought to be doing, I always remember a captain standing on a deck and saying, ‘Never forget what’s been done for you.’”²

May you and I never forget what Jesus Christ has done for us in giving his life on the cross in your place and mine to pay the penalty for all our sins, to grant us a full and free pardon, and to give us the gift of eternal life. May our manner of life and how we live for God and others be evidence of our heartfelt gratitude.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for giving your Son, Jesus, to give his life in my place so that I could be totally forgiven and receive your gift of eternal life in Heaven forever. Help me never to forget this in the way that I live, in what I do, and how I serve you and help others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Romans 5:7-8 (NIV).

2. Cited on KneEmail, Mike Benson, editor.

Another subscriber asks, “I need help and don’t know whom to turn to. I am a Moslem and just met a wonderful man who is a Christian. We want to explore the possibility of a long-term relationship. However, can a Christian and Moslem have a life together? I believe in God but I have a difficult time figuring out why every religion says, ‘We are the one. We are the true way to God and to eternal life.’ So how does one determine which one is The Way?”

Hello Friend, “Thank you for sharing your heart with me. I can appreciate the dilemma you are facing. You have asked two questions the first one being, “Can a Christian and a Moslem have a life together?” It is not impossible to have a relationship with someone of a totally different religion, but it is certainly not a good foundation upon which to build a lasting marriage relationship and especially for bringing up children. There is bound to be discord later on and it is very likely to lead to major conflict. In fact, God’s Word, the Bible, warns us not to be unequally yoked with someone of a totally different faith.”² So as long as you have different religious beliefs, it would be very unwise to pursue this relationship.

However, your second question could be the answer for the dilemma you are facing. That question is, “How can one know The Way to God and to eternal life?” Furthermore, I strongly urge you not to make any lasting commitment to any man until you first resolve this critical life issue. When you settle this issue, you will know what is the right decision for you to make.

First, I suggest you pray to God and ask him to reveal to you the Truth about the way to God and eternal life. As Jesus said, “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”³

Because you asked, please allow me to share the way to God from a Christian viewpoint. It is true that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and the only way to God and to eternal life. But how can we know whether Jesus was just a good prophet or was he the Son of God? Many people over the centuries have claimed to have the truth about God and the way to him, but Jesus Christ is also the only leader who ever claimed that he would rise from death.⁴ And according to historical evidence, he did. Following his crucifixion and resurrection, he was seen by the women who visited his tomb and found it empty, by the disciples, and by more than 500 other witnesses.⁵

For more evidence regarding the validity of Jesus Christ be sure to read the article, “Jesus Christ: Is He God or Man?” online at: http://tinyurl.com/lu577. Also, for evidence regarding the validity of the Bible read the article, “Is the Bible God’s Word?” at: http://tinyurl.com/yulazq. And if you would like to compare the beliefs of Christianity with those of Islam, the following website might be very helpful for you. It’s at: http://tinyurl.com/christianity-islam.

Again, as you read each of these articles and consider which way is “The Way” [God's Way] always pray and ask God to reveal to you His Truth and help you to see “the Way.” To see what the Bible teaches on how to become a Christian, please read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: https://learning.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in today’s world there are many voices claiming that their way is the way to God and eternal life. I earnestly pray that you will always lead me into the pathway of Truth so that I will know that I know what the true and only way to you and to eternal life is, and that all of my sins are forgiven. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 14:6 (NKJV).

2. 2 Corinthians 6:14.

3. John 8:32 (NKJV).

4. Matthew 16:21.

5. Luke 24:13-43.

Recently Joy and I attended a Memorial Service on the Marine Base at Camp Pendleton here in Southern California. Our town is next door to Camp Pendleton, and our church is very involved with the Engineer Corps. Among a variety of ways we support the marines, whenever a contingent is sent overseas, our church is given the name of each marine so members can choose one of the marines to be a prayer partner for him.

Sadly, one of the marines for whom Joy and I were prayer partners was killed in action earlier this year. This is why we attended the Memorial Service in his honor.

It was an extremely moving ceremony. There were quite a few marines who took part in the service and, during Roll Call, their names were called out one at a time by the Officer in charge. Each marine loudly answered “present” when his name was called. When the name of “our” marine, Lance Corporal Alejandro Yazzie, was called, there was no answer. The Officer called his name louder … still no answer. A third time his name was called—very loud this time. Dead silence followed! It was so sad that Joy and I cried. Family members and other marines cried too. Lance Corporal Yazzie had died serving his country.

After the ceremony I couldn’t help but think about the time when it will be “Roll Call in Heaven.” Imagine, if you can, if when the name of a loved one is called and there is no response? What if God calls his/her name a second time … and a third time … and still there is no answer? The sound of silence will be deafening … and devastating.

The question we all need to face is this: at the Roll Call in Heaven when your name is called, will you be there to answer? Also, we need to think of those of our loved ones whose names will not be called and do something about it now. *

As today’s Scripture vividly reminds us, only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s [Jesus Christ's] book of life will be there to answer, “Present.”

To make absolute certain that your name is written in the book of life, please read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian,” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian. Be sure to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior so that when the roll is called in Heaven, you will be able to answer with confidence, “PRESENT.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you gave your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins so that I can be freely forgiven and receive your gift of eternal life, and in so doing, have my name written in your book of life. Because of your forgiveness I can know with assurance that when the roll is called in Heaven I’ll be there. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Revelation 21:25-27 (NIV)

*Note: To help loved ones be able to answer “Present” when their names are called at the “Roll Call in Heaven” see helps at: www.actsweb.org/people_power02.php.

Joy and I saw the movie, “Conviction.” It was based on a true story about a man who was convicted of a murder he never committed, and consequently, spent sixteen years in jail. His sister was so convinced of his innocence that she studied to become a lawyer so she could defend him and plead his case—which she did. After years of struggle, the DNA of the murdered victim was brought to light and, comparing it to the DNA of her brother, proved his innocence beyond any doubt. He had been set up by a police officer who didn’t like him, and who threatened witnesses that if they didn’t testify against the accused, they could end up the same as the murdered victim whose graphic photos were showed to them. Being terrified, they falsely testified against the accused man.

Because of the statute of limitations the police officer who masterminded the false evidence was not brought to justice. Furthermore, because she set up the accused as the murderer, the real murderer was never looked for nor found.

We left the movie theatre feeling sick in the stomach as this was a terrible travesty of justice. I couldn’t help but wonder how many other people are sent to jail and their life ruined because of the miscarriage of justice, and how many people avoided justice because somebody else was blamed for their crime.

However, while many who are guilty may escape justice in this life, they never will in the life to come, when they stand before God to give an account of their life because, as the Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”²

Unless a person admits and confesses his/her sinfulness to God—regardless of the severity of the sins committed—and receives Jesus as his or her Savior and God’s forgiveness, the truth will be evident when standing before the Judge of the Universe where true justice will be served. Their sins will find them out.¹

The good news is, and of this we can be assured, God’s offer of forgiveness is available right now to all who confess their sins and sinfulness to God, believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for all their sins. If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and received God’s forgiveness, I urge you to do that today. For help see: “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Realize too, that it is not God’s will that anyone perishes,³ so over and over God’s Word reminds us that if we have never accepted God’s forgiveness, we will stand before the Judge of the Universe, and justice will be served.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the wisdom and courage to always confess my sins, and ask for your forgiveness on the basis that Jesus Christ, your Son, died on the cross to pay the just penalty for all my sins. For this I will be eternally grateful. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name amen.”

1. Numbers 32:23 (KJV).

2. Hebrews 9:27 (KJV).

3. 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV).