Answer These Three Simple Questions:
- Would you stake your “eternal salvation” on a hypothesis?
- Would you risk “losing you soul” over something you’re not sure of?
- Supposing you live only one life, without a second chance, would you risk your “eternity” based on only what you believe?
If the answer is “no” or even “maybe” to all three of these questions, then you may be in the same boat with literally billions of believers who are actually living a “yes” to exactly those three things that they say wouldn’t or probably wouldn’t do and that is assuming that you live only one life.
Do you realize that you may believe exact opposite of what the very one you deem to be the “creator of everything” that exists, actually said to be true?
Have you ever heard that no matter how many good works one does or how good one is, if he/she doesn’t believe “on” Jesus he/she is on the road that leads to perdition?
It’s Merely a Hypothesis
A Christian prime prerequisite to being “saved” is believing “in your heart” that “God raised Jesus from the dead.” (Ro 10:9) Do you KNOW for sure that God raised Jesus from the dead or even if he actually died?
It’s impossible to answer “yes” to that question since the only way for you to actually KNOW that is if you were actually there and saw it happen. Not even Jesus’ disciples saw it happen. Even Paul who created this requirement to be saved, never even met Jesus and could not possibly have known. You don’t actually KNOW you merely believe. And remember, belief is required to be deceived.
- You might say: “But the Bible says…” How do you KNOW that those who you assume to have said some certain things, actually said them? Are you certain the Bible is inerrant, infallible and inspired by God — every word — when there are so many contradictions and inconsistencies in it?
- Why did Jesus say: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”?
- Who are those who say “Lord, Lord”?
- Why did Jesus say: “The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” (Lk 12:46)
- Who is the servant that is “appointed him his portion with the unbelievers”? It could only be believers, since that servant is not an unbeliever.
Belief is required to be deceived.
Believing something that is untrue is the same as being deceived. It’s alright to believe, but how do you know for sure what you believe is true? Knowing this then, doesn’t it seem dangerous to base your “eternal” destiny on belief?
Exact opposite teaching between Paul and Jesus
Paul said:
- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. (Titus 3:5)
But Jesus said:
- …then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Mat 16:27)
- …but the righteous (shall go) into life eternal. — (See Mat 25 about works of righteousness) (Mat 25:46)
- And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations (Rev 2:26)
Obviously, Paul and Jesus had extremely opposite concepts, in the very Bible you say you believe in, on how to obtain “eternal life”. It is very clear from Jesus’ teaching that doing works of righteousness and God’s will was necessary for “salvation”. Now who’s word do you trust more: Paul’s or Jesus’?
Righteousness is also required to enter the kingdom of heaven (according to Jesus)
(Fortunately, all of us eventually get there one day — some earlier than others.)
…except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in NO CASE enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:20)
…the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Mat 21:31)
So you see, righteousness is required to enter the kingdom of heaven — according to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees do get into the kingdom of heaven. But eventually, because of their unrighteousness, they even take longer to get in than the publicans and the harlots. Here Jesus alludes to Reincarnation since some enter the kingdom of heaven before others.
Salvation Defined:
The word “salvation”, originally, was a concept about being liberated from one’s enemies. After New Testament times, salvation began to mean being saved from Hell (which doesn’t exist). Salvation in those days was originally being delivered from enemies — in Jesus’ day it was the Romans.
“Ye shall KNOW the truth…” — not merely believe
The whole purpose of the experience of this life is to learn, change and to make progress… and knowing the actual truth that sets us free from ignorance. Most all of those who have gotten a glimpse of the “other side” often will mention something about the “Life Review” in which we get a chance to see how we treated others, and what effect we had on others. According to them, it is a complete life changing experience. If we only live one life and “the slate is all wiped clean by what Jesus did on Calvary“, then why would we need to see for ourselves how we treated others?
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- Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mk 12:31)
It doesn’t matter whether or not you believe in Reincarnation, most of those who have had the chance to be “over there”, and have come back to tell about it, KNOW (not believe) it is reality. Many of those who come back, get a chance to finish the work that they came to this life to do. They say it was an experience that changed their lives forever.
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- …And the truth will set you FREE (Jn 8:32)
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Jesus said that you will KNOW the Truth. Truth is based on fact. Belief is merely a theory or hypothesis. Belief is required to be deceived — but not knowledge. It’s alright to believe something if there is a good chance it’s true. But if you believe something that is untrue, then by definition you are deceived.
The freedom Jesus was talking about was not freedom from the physical bondage of men but freedom from the bondage of untruths and ignorance. Truth is something you must KNOW and is based on facts and evidence — not something you merely believe.
- “Ye shall KNOW the Truth…” He didn’t say believe…
Belief is nothing more than a hypothesis
So when you KNOW the Truth, based on fact and reality, you are set free from the bondage of untruth. It’s impossible to believe the Truth, because if you hold the Truth, you KNOW it’s true, because it’s based on fact and reality — there is no believing involved. Belief is nothing more than a hypothesis, which may or may not be true even though the belief is partially factual. However, something that is partly factual could in fact be misleading or even deceiving.
Conclusion:
“Entering into the Kingdom of Heaven” is a completely different concept than “salvation”. Salvation is a process of purification and perfection — in my view. Entering into the Kingdom of Heaven (the city of God) is a completely different phase of this whole experience. The “born again” process ends and one’s soul “shall go no more out”, as Jesus put it.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Rev 3:12)
“Go no more out” means one’s soul no longer goes out to be born again out of necessity to continue the process of purification and perfection — Reincarnation — and enters into the kingdom of heaven. There is no such thing as “once to die” and one is made perfect automatically, as the church teaches.
Next: Reincarnation | If Jesus Didn’t Really Die