Why do Christians say you need Jesus to get to heaven?
Bible Study Network

   Jesus said, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also
God who sent me.  For when you see me, you are seeing the one who
sent me.” (John 12:44-45 NLT.)

     The foregoing passage states the essence of our faith in Jesus Christ;
that He is the “Second Person” of God.  He was not just a man, but the
Creator of the Universe Himself.  “All things were made through Him,
and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3.) “For in
Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” (Colossians 2:9
NLT.)

     “God is Spirit.” (John 4:24.) “No one has ever seen God.” (John 1:
18 NIV.) Jesus said, “All things have been delivered to Me by My
Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone
know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to
reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27.)

     Generally speaking, the world’s religions are about man’s seeking to
get to God.  What distinguishes the Christian faith is the belief that God
came to us; to meet us where we are in our circumstances.  “You must
have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did
not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”
(Philippians 2:5-7 NLT.)

     God, through His prophets, predicted this marvelous event centuries
earlier: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the
virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel
(literally “God-With-Us”).” (Isaiah 7:14.)

      Interestingly, when Mary the mother of Jesus turned up pregnant,
her fiancé, Joseph, initially thought that Mary had cheated on him during
their betrothal.  “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid
to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the
Holy Spirit.’” (Matthew 1:20 NLT.)

     So God came to us, but for what purpose?  He came as a man to
redeem us from our sin nature so that we can have eternal fellowship
with Him.  “[T]he Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45.)
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1
Corinthians 15:22 NASB.)  “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of
sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57.)

     This is why Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no
one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB.) “For there
is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1
Timothy 2:5-6.)

     “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1.) “Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we
must be saved.” (Acts 4:12.)

     These passages make clear that “being a ‘good’ person” or following
the teachings of men will not result in salvation.  To be saved and to be
enabled to spend eternity in heaven with God, a person must do so
through Jesus Christ.

     The simplicity of salvation is difficult for many to accept. “Just as it
is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of
offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.’” (Romans
9:33 NASB.)  This rejection was predicted long before it happened.  
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief
cornerstone.  This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes”
(Psalm 118:22.)  Later, Jesus told the religious leaders, that this was a
reference to Him (and to them). (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:
17.)

     Jesus then made this interesting statement, “And whoever falls on
this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to
powder.” (Matthew 21:44; Luke 20:18.)  People who fall on Jesus by
placing all of their faith and trust and hope in Him will be “broken,”
meaning they will have lost the pride which is so offensive to God. “The
Lord detests the proud.” (Proverbs 16:5 NLT.)  For those who hold onto
pride and refuse Jesus, there is judgment. (John 12:48.)  

     God came to us in bodily form to redeem us from our sins by taking
the punishment for our sins.  “ . . . the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew
20:28.) “Not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own
blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal
redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12 NASB.) “Christ has redeemed us from the
curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed
is everyone who hangs on a tree’).” (Galatians 3:13 quoting
Deuteronomy 21:23.)

     The Bible tells us “that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter],
then by the twelve.  After that He was seen by over five hundred
brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present [about
A.D. 50], but some have fallen asleep [died].  After that He was seen by
James, then by all the apostles.  Then last of all He was seen by me also,
as by one born out of due time.” (1 Corninthians 15:3-8 [written by the
Apostle Paul].) “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He
might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” (Romans 14:9 NASB.)

     “Everyone who believes in him [Jesus] will not perish but have
eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT.)  And “as many as received Him, to them
He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His
name: who 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.)

     If you have not turned your life over to Jesus yet, do it now.  Pray a
prayer like this one:

     
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my
sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart
and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Please send
your Holy Spirit to me and help me to do those things that are
pleasing to God.  I can’t change myself, but I know that you have the
power to change me.  Thank you for saving me. Amen.

     If you prayed this prayer, go and tell someone about it.  You can
also send us an
e-mail.  We will respond with encouragement and love.  
God bless you.

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