How do you get to heaven and avoid the Lake of Fire? Simple. God did the hard part. Man could not. Salvation is never what we do for God. It is what God has done for us in Christ. Jesus Christ bore the judgment we deserved, satisfied divine justice, and accomplished the work in full (John 19:30; Rom. 5:8). Our good works don't save us. His work on the cross does. The issue for the sinner is not effort, reform, ritual, or resolve. The issue is faith. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). One act of faith. One moment of trust. Eternal life is received as a free gift, not earned by good works (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8–9).
Category: Heaven
The Great White Throne Judgment
The Great White Throne Judgment is the final courtroom scene in human history. It’s not a trial—it’s a sentencing. The evidence is already in. This is God’s last judgment on all unbelievers from every dispensation, from Cain to the last rebel at the end of the Millennium. It is described in Rev 20:11-15, and make no mistake—no believer will be present at this judgment (John 3:16-18; Rom 8:1). If you’re at the Great White Throne, you’re already on the wrong side of history—and eternity. The Judge is the Lord Jesus Christ, as Jesus said, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). He sits on the Great White Throne, pure and blinding in righteousness and justice. Heaven and earth flee away—no place to hide, no defense attorneys, no character witnesses. Just perfect divine integrity measuring every unbeliever by the only standard that counts—God’s absolute righteousness.
Eternal Life Is Free, but Eternal Rewards Are Earned
Eternal life is a free gift. Rewards are earned. We can’t lose our salvation—ever, because it’s an irrevocable free gift, by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone (John 10:28; Eph 2:8-9). It’s the gift of God (Rom 6:23), not of works (Rom 4:4-5). But while eternal life is secure, rewards are not. We can forfeit eternal rewards through failure in the spiritual life. Rewards are tied to faithfulness, obedience, and production under the filling of the Spirit. They’re not about keeping salvation. They’re about honor, authority, privilege, and commendation before Jesus Christ at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10).
If You Died Today, Would You Go to Heaven?
I recently asked somebody, “If you were to die today would you go to heaven?” He said, “I don’t know.” When I asked him why he was uncertain, he said, “I’m not sure if I’ve been good enough.” His statement exposed the root of his confusion—works-based salvation. Sadly, he’s trying to measure up to God through human effort. That’s religion, not the gospel. Religion is man, by man’s efforts, trying to earn God’s approval. The gospel, in contrast, is God doing all the work, with man simply receiving what He has accomplished through Christ. Religion puts the burden on the sinner. The gospel places the focus on the Savior. Hell is full of religious people—those who trusted in their good works, their morality, or their church involvement to get them into heaven. But heaven is full of unworthy people who understood that salvation is a free gift, received by faith alone in Christ alone (John 3:16; Rom 6:23; Eph 2:8-9). God doesn’t ask us to work for eternal life—He calls us to believe in the One who did all the work. The issue is not what we do for God, but what He has done for us through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus (1 Cor 15:3-4).
Two Judgments in Eternity
Every human being—believer and unbeliever alike—will stand before God to be judged, but the nature of that judgment differs based on one’s relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible presents two distinct judgments: the Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema Seat) for believers and the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
There is a difference between the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:15-20) and the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10; Rom 14:10). The Great White Throne Judgment is for unbelievers only and concerns their eternal condemnation based on their deeds. It results in their final separation from God in the lake of fire. No unbeliever will be at the Great White Throne Judgment. The Judgment Seat of Christ, on the other hand, is for believers in Jesus Christ and concerns their rewards for faithfulness and service. It does not determine salvation, as all participants are already saved eternally (John 3:16; 10:28; Rom 6:23).
When Jesus was Forsaken by the Father
Jesus, in His humanity, experienced a judicial separation from God the Father for three hours while bearing the punishment for our sins on the cross. Jesus’ judicial separation from the Father was necessary for Him to atone for humanity’s sins.
God the Son Came Down
Sometime in eternity past, God the Father sent God the Son into the world to fulfill a divine mission. God’s Word tells us, “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). This was the great mission: to bring salvation to everyone. This act of God was done in love, as it is written, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
Eternal Life
In its entirety, eternal life is a free gift offered by God to those who trust in Christ as Savior (John 3:16; Eph 2:8-9), an experience to be enjoyed now (John 10:10; 17:17), and a future reward for a life of sacrifice (Luke 18:29-30).
Who Crucified Jesus?
Who crucified Jesus? According to the testimony of Scripture, Jesus’ death on the cross was the result of: 1) God the Father who sent Him, 2) Jesus who willingly went to the cross, 3), Satan who worked through others to help crucify Him, 4) unbelieving Jews, and 5) unbelieving Gentiles.
Jesus’ Return for His Saints
The eschatological subject of the Rapture of the church can be related the study of Soteriology because it is regarded as a form of deliverance. When Messiah returns at the end of the church age, He will deliver His church from an evil world and a coming judgment that will last for seven years (Read Revelation chapters 6-18). A distinction is here drawn between Jesus coming for His saints at the Rapture, and Jesus coming with His saints at His Second Coming (Dan 7:13-14; Matt 19:28; 25:31; Rev 19:11-21). Jesus is now in heaven preparing a place for believers to be with Him there (John 14:1-3). Paul revealed Jesus will return for His church and that all Christians will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air (1 Th 4:13-18).
Jesus’ Ascension and Session
After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to many on several occasions. His final appearance was to His apostles. Luke wrote, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:50-51). And in Acts we’re told, “He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). It’s important to note that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven, and that He will return the same way. Jesus’ ascension into heaven was the beginning of His session at the right hand of God.
Defining Salvation in the Bible
Soteriology is the study of salvation. The word soteriology is derived from the Greek words "soter" (σωτήρ), which means savior, and "logos" (λόγος), which means a word about, or the study of something. Soteriology is the sphere of systematic theology that speaks to the nature, means, scope, and purpose of salvation. It is an important theme that runs throughout Scripture and reveals the God who saves.
Life, Death, and Eternity
God has life in Himself and creates life. Jeremiah said, “the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King” (Jer 10:10). Jesus declared, “the Father has life in Himself” (John 5:26). And the apostle Paul stated, “for in Him we live and move and exist” (Act 17:28). This teaching, … Continue reading Life, Death, and Eternity