Back Door To HeavenJudged 3
In “Dead and Judged”, we concluded that everyone faces judgement. Because there is a judgement, with a judgement, comes a verdict. There are no ‘hung juries’, God alone will judge.
In “Escape Condemnation”, we learned that God loves us so much, He gave us an escape - Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ can provide us with a ‘not guilty verdict’.
The question then becomes, is there another way? Is there something else we can do to get ‘into heaven’? Is there a Back Door?
The answer is NO!
Listen to what He said:
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" John 14:6
“No one comes to the Father except through ME!” Jesus Christ said it Himself. This verse is so important because it DEFINES the simple truth - Christ ALONE is the way to escape condemnation.
What about the Back Door?
We live in a world that wants to believe there is a way to ‘escape’ judgement. Or, better yet, something other than the simple truth, “I am the way”, is good enough to get us into heaven. We are taught ‘trying to live a good life’ is enough. We are taught following some ‘path’ of living is enough. We are taught some ‘magic formula’ is enough. Some believe that wearing a ‘necklace’ is enough…
It is hard to read the inscription - it says, “Whosover dies wearing this Scapular shall be saved”… Wearing a ‘magic necklace’ is NOT going to save anyone… Sadly - there are people that actually believe this.
We are taught, in some cases, that just believing the simple truth is NOT enough - in addition to believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, we have ‘follow’ some pre-defined formula.
Again, what did He say, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" This sentence ends with a period not a comma.
IT sounds like we are beating a dead horse. Think about this:
Crucifixion is probably one of the Most Painful ways to die that there is. First, the pre-crucifixion rituals physically exhaust one (the beatings, the chains, the carrying of the crossbar through a city and up a hill). Then there comes the pain of literally nailing one to the wood. If one has ever stepped on nail or hit one’s thumb with a hammer - think about how much more painful it would be to actually drive a spike through the hands and feet. Then one is ‘gently’ (as if anyone is going to be gentle with a condemned criminal) hoisted onto a pillar. In that position, tremendous pressure on the chest makes breathing difficult, and often dislocates the shoulders. In order to breathe, one has to pull up with arms, wrenching at the nails through the hands, and push downward with legs, wrenching those nails… Every breath is searing agony. That continues, until one suffocates. It gives new meaning to the phrase “cruel and unusual punishment”.
Jesus was fully God and fully man. He KNEW what was about to happen to Him. He knew that He was going to be beaten. He knew people were going to curse, ridicule, insult, and humiliate Him. He knew He was going to be crucified¹…
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, knowing His own future. Here is what happened, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”” Matthew 26:39, and a second time in verse 42, “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”” It says, He prayed a third time in verse 44, “So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”²
Pay Attention: Three times Jesus Christ asked God if there was ANY OTHER WAY!
Mark 14:36 records Him as saying, “…Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Three times Jesus begged not to have to bear the burden of the world’s sins. Can one honestly believe that God would not have provided Him a ‘Back Door’ into Salvation if one existed? If there was anything humanity could do to ‘merit’ salvation - a ‘not guilty’ verdict, why would God require His Son to go through that agony and torture? Paul tells us in Galatians 2:12, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” In other words, a back door through man's efforts makes Christ's sacrifice worthless. Is it possible to honestly believe that if wearing a ‘magic necklace’ or following some ‘magic formula’ would get one into heaven, that God would have required such a sacrifice?
The bottom line is this:
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" John 14:6
If there were a ‘Back Door’, Jesus would never have had to suffer and die on the Cross³. It is that obvious. If there were another way - God would have provided it for His own Son!
There is No Back Door! The ONLY door is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!
¹ [This point bears consideration - Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be - The Christ, The Son of God - OR He was the stupidest man that ever lived. Crucifixion was the ‘Roman’ form of execution. Jesus was not the first person be crucified. He probably witnessed it many times and knew its horror. At any point during His trials He could have simply said, “No, I am not the Christ.” Had He done so, the worst thing that could happen is a quick death by stoning or at best, freedom.]
² Full text is Matthew 26:36-46 cross referenced to Mark 14:32-42 & Luke 22:39-46.
³ See ‘The Sufferings and the Glory’ for a full account of the ‘Passion of Christ’ (His betrayal, sufferings, trials, death, and resurrection).
COMMENT (from previous posting)
loren said...
Hi,
This was a great posting, I really liked the case you made by using Jesus Himself as the example!
I'm not sure if most people know this, but the English word 'excruciate' comes from 'crucify'. It really is the most brutal form of death imagineable. Through this, Jesus is able to succor anyone who is facing any other form of death.
Blessings in Christ.
ADDENDUM (Why Do Good Works)
We have learned that Christians are already judged righteous (Judged 2). From this article we have learned that Nothing man can do can 'get them into heaven'. There is no back door...
So why do good works as a Christian?
Simply, there are five reasons why ‘Christians’ do ‘good works’ with the full and certain knowledge that works will not get us into heaven…
Obedience: Colossians 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Titus 2:14)
Glorify God: We have quoted 1 Corinthians 10:31 repeatedly as a foundational verse.
Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Share the Gospel: “You are the only Bible some people will ever read.” This continues to be true statement. Doing good works in the Name of Jesus Christ is an avenue to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:28-29 tells us to be ‘Christ like’ with the INTENT of sharing the Gospel. (see "Views: Doctrine 101.1" for an explanation of this abused passage.)
We are to be Christ like. Ephesians 1:6 tell us, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
If the Holy Spirit is doing a good work in us, we should also be doing good works.
“They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” a song by Peter Scholtes (© 1966) is a very good song. 1 Corinthians 13 talks about all the things we can “DO”, but reminds us that without love they are meaningless. That love is for God, the sinner, and the saint.
Know the Gospel: 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” If the Spirit of God dwells in us how can we NOT show it in the things we do. (Psalm 119)
Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Treasures in heaven:
Lastly, our works determine many things in heaven (and the next life). Our position and stewardship is determined (2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 5:10, Luke 19:11-27). We have available a crown of righteousness, a crown of glory, a crown of life, a crown of joy, and a crown which is imperishable (2 Tim. 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12; 1 Thess. 2:19; 1 Cor. 9:25). All because of what WE, as Christians, do (our works) in this life.
In “Escape Condemnation”, we learned that God loves us so much, He gave us an escape - Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ can provide us with a ‘not guilty verdict’.
The question then becomes, is there another way? Is there something else we can do to get ‘into heaven’? Is there a Back Door?
The answer is NO!
Listen to what He said:
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" John 14:6
“No one comes to the Father except through ME!” Jesus Christ said it Himself. This verse is so important because it DEFINES the simple truth - Christ ALONE is the way to escape condemnation.
What about the Back Door?
We live in a world that wants to believe there is a way to ‘escape’ judgement. Or, better yet, something other than the simple truth, “I am the way”, is good enough to get us into heaven. We are taught ‘trying to live a good life’ is enough. We are taught following some ‘path’ of living is enough. We are taught some ‘magic formula’ is enough. Some believe that wearing a ‘necklace’ is enough…
It is hard to read the inscription - it says, “Whosover dies wearing this Scapular shall be saved”… Wearing a ‘magic necklace’ is NOT going to save anyone… Sadly - there are people that actually believe this.
We are taught, in some cases, that just believing the simple truth is NOT enough - in addition to believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, we have ‘follow’ some pre-defined formula.
Again, what did He say, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" This sentence ends with a period not a comma.
IT sounds like we are beating a dead horse. Think about this:
Crucifixion is probably one of the Most Painful ways to die that there is. First, the pre-crucifixion rituals physically exhaust one (the beatings, the chains, the carrying of the crossbar through a city and up a hill). Then there comes the pain of literally nailing one to the wood. If one has ever stepped on nail or hit one’s thumb with a hammer - think about how much more painful it would be to actually drive a spike through the hands and feet. Then one is ‘gently’ (as if anyone is going to be gentle with a condemned criminal) hoisted onto a pillar. In that position, tremendous pressure on the chest makes breathing difficult, and often dislocates the shoulders. In order to breathe, one has to pull up with arms, wrenching at the nails through the hands, and push downward with legs, wrenching those nails… Every breath is searing agony. That continues, until one suffocates. It gives new meaning to the phrase “cruel and unusual punishment”.
Jesus was fully God and fully man. He KNEW what was about to happen to Him. He knew that He was going to be beaten. He knew people were going to curse, ridicule, insult, and humiliate Him. He knew He was going to be crucified¹…
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, knowing His own future. Here is what happened, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”” Matthew 26:39, and a second time in verse 42, “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”” It says, He prayed a third time in verse 44, “So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”²
Pay Attention: Three times Jesus Christ asked God if there was ANY OTHER WAY!
Mark 14:36 records Him as saying, “…Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Three times Jesus begged not to have to bear the burden of the world’s sins. Can one honestly believe that God would not have provided Him a ‘Back Door’ into Salvation if one existed? If there was anything humanity could do to ‘merit’ salvation - a ‘not guilty’ verdict, why would God require His Son to go through that agony and torture? Paul tells us in Galatians 2:12, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” In other words, a back door through man's efforts makes Christ's sacrifice worthless. Is it possible to honestly believe that if wearing a ‘magic necklace’ or following some ‘magic formula’ would get one into heaven, that God would have required such a sacrifice?
The bottom line is this:
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."" John 14:6
If there were a ‘Back Door’, Jesus would never have had to suffer and die on the Cross³. It is that obvious. If there were another way - God would have provided it for His own Son!
There is No Back Door! The ONLY door is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!
¹ [This point bears consideration - Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be - The Christ, The Son of God - OR He was the stupidest man that ever lived. Crucifixion was the ‘Roman’ form of execution. Jesus was not the first person be crucified. He probably witnessed it many times and knew its horror. At any point during His trials He could have simply said, “No, I am not the Christ.” Had He done so, the worst thing that could happen is a quick death by stoning or at best, freedom.]
² Full text is Matthew 26:36-46 cross referenced to Mark 14:32-42 & Luke 22:39-46.
³ See ‘The Sufferings and the Glory’ for a full account of the ‘Passion of Christ’ (His betrayal, sufferings, trials, death, and resurrection).
COMMENT (from previous posting)
loren said...
Hi,
This was a great posting, I really liked the case you made by using Jesus Himself as the example!
I'm not sure if most people know this, but the English word 'excruciate' comes from 'crucify'. It really is the most brutal form of death imagineable. Through this, Jesus is able to succor anyone who is facing any other form of death.
Blessings in Christ.
ADDENDUM (Why Do Good Works)
We have learned that Christians are already judged righteous (Judged 2). From this article we have learned that Nothing man can do can 'get them into heaven'. There is no back door...
So why do good works as a Christian?
Simply, there are five reasons why ‘Christians’ do ‘good works’ with the full and certain knowledge that works will not get us into heaven…
Obedience: Colossians 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Titus 2:14)
Glorify God: We have quoted 1 Corinthians 10:31 repeatedly as a foundational verse.
Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Share the Gospel: “You are the only Bible some people will ever read.” This continues to be true statement. Doing good works in the Name of Jesus Christ is an avenue to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:28-29 tells us to be ‘Christ like’ with the INTENT of sharing the Gospel. (see "Views: Doctrine 101.1" for an explanation of this abused passage.)
We are to be Christ like. Ephesians 1:6 tell us, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
If the Holy Spirit is doing a good work in us, we should also be doing good works.
“They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” a song by Peter Scholtes (© 1966) is a very good song. 1 Corinthians 13 talks about all the things we can “DO”, but reminds us that without love they are meaningless. That love is for God, the sinner, and the saint.
Know the Gospel: 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” If the Spirit of God dwells in us how can we NOT show it in the things we do. (Psalm 119)
Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Treasures in heaven:
Lastly, our works determine many things in heaven (and the next life). Our position and stewardship is determined (2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 5:10, Luke 19:11-27). We have available a crown of righteousness, a crown of glory, a crown of life, a crown of joy, and a crown which is imperishable (2 Tim. 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12; 1 Thess. 2:19; 1 Cor. 9:25). All because of what WE, as Christians, do (our works) in this life.
posted by Unchained Slave at
9:35 AM
1 Comments:
Hi David,
I remember the first time you posted this, especially the part with the scapular. How sad, how superstitious, how very like the devil to seduce with a false confidence and then lull into a death march. But thanks for the reminder, especially, about the suffering and the love of our Savior.
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