EXPLANATION FROM THE BIBLE:

#1. Obeying God’s laws and commandments have no ability to justify us (make us innocent and worthy of heaven) in God’s sight. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” – Galatians 2:16.

#2. Although Cornelius gave to many charities, God sent Peter to explain that only belief in Jesus can provide forgiveness of sins. “[Cornelius was] a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. . .Then Peter opened his mouth and said, . . .To him [Jesus] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” – Acts 10:2, 34, 43.

#3. It is impossible to live a “good life” or be a "good person" in the sight of God because God defines goodness as His absolute perfection. “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” – Romans 3:12, “there is none good but one, that is, God.” – Mark 10:18. If it is possible for us to get to Heaven by living a good and upright life, then Jesus died for nothing... “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing” - Galatians 2:21.

#4-8. Good works cannot earn God’s gift of salvation since salvation is not gained by merit, but by grace. "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags" - Isaiah 64:6, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,” – Titus 3:5, "And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." Romans 11:6, “For by grace (undeserved favor) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9.  In John 6:29 Jesus tells us the only WORK which men must do to be saved... “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

#9. Water baptism is an outward expression of a personal belief that Jesus is the Son of God who died for the sins of the world. The only “baptism” that has the power to save (provide us with God’s forgiveness and eternal life in heaven) is the baptism (washing) of our conscience which happens when we trust in Jesus to completely wash away our sins. “what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” – Acts 8:36-37, “baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus” – 1 Peter 3:21.

#10. Sacrament is merely a method of remembering the death of Jesus. Observing it will not earn us the right to enter heaven. “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19, "And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." - Mark 14:23.

#11-12. Although confirmation and temple marriage are commanded by certain religious leaders, they are never taught in the Bible, which contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel (all of the essential truths for understanding how to get to heaven). “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments (rituals) of men.” – Matthew 15:9, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”
– Matthew 22:30.

#13. Being the child of a religious parent does not automatically make you a child of God. You must also be born spiritually. “They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God:” – Romans 9:8, “But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12-13.

#14. Jesus Christ is God’s spokesperson to us in these last days. It is God’s intention for us to listen to his voice to understand the way to heaven, not the teachings of a particular religious leader. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” – Hebrews 1:1-2.

QUIZ SUMMARY:

Surprisingly, NONE of these things above can earn us the right to enter heaven. WHY? A day is coming when God will call each person who has ever lived to stand before Him in judgment. The standard required to enter heaven will be righteousness (complete perfection). “Because he [God] hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness” – Acts 17:31.

Unfortunately, everyone has fallen short of God’s perfection. “There is none righteous, no, not one” – Romans 3:10, “For all have sinned (disobeyed God) and come short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23.

Disobeying just one of God’s commands makes us guilty of breaking all of them and deserving of the penalty of death. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” – James 2:10, “For the wages (payment) of sin is death” – Romans 6:23, “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”
– Romans 5:12.

ALL who lack God’s perfect righteousness will be sentenced with the second death: separation from God forever in the lake of fire. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” – Romans 1:18, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:8, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” – Matthew 25:46.

Thankfully, God has provided us with a way to escape the punishment that our sins deserve! “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”- Romans 5:8.

God, who must judge sin, loved us so much that he sent his only son Jesus to take the punishment for our sins in our place. Jesus, being fully God and completely sinless, willingly carried our sins in his body on the cross and suffered the separation from God and death that we deserved. “For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” – Colossians 2:9, “his (Jesus’) own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (the cross),” – 1 Peter 2:24, “For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Jesus alone, as perfect God, has fully paid the punishment for your sins and freely offers you complete forgiveness and the righteousness needed to enter heaven as a gift the moment you believe (trust) in him as the only way of salvation (rescue from sin). “the Son of man (Jesus) must be lifted up (on the cross):For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (in the second death), but have everlasting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” – John 3:14, 16, 18. “the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” – Romans 3:22, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus”- Romans 6:23, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6.

God raised Jesus from the dead to confirm his promise is true! “What God has promised. . .he has fulfilled. . .by raising up Jesus.” – Acts 13:32.

WILL YOU TRUST IN JESUS TODAY TO RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS & PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS? "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Click Here for Steps to Peace with God.