God loves His children so much that He has provided a way to be saved and go to heaven. The human race was sentenced to death when they sinned (Romans 6:23). Someone has to atone for the sins of men in order for man to receive salvation and go to heaven.
God in His infinite mercy planned a way of salvation. He sent His only Son to die on behalf of man and set him free (John 3:16). Those that accept Christ’s death for their sins will be saved (John 1:12) but those that don’t will have to die for their own sins.
In Acts 16:30, when the apostle Paul was in jail, the non-Christian guard asked him, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul answered: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). It is faith in Christ that saves. Therefore, having faith in God without having personal faith in Jesus as a personal Redeemer from sin is not enough to save a person.
The Creator of the universe has given us the gift of salvation, completely free of charge. All we have to do is take it in our hearts with grateful hearts. Having faith in Jesus is the only door to salvation (John 14:6). Christ is the way from earth to heaven. By His humanity He touches this earth, and by His divinity He touches heaven. He is the ladder connecting earth and heaven (John 1:51). Because of His incarnation and death “a new and living way” has been consecrated for us (Hebrews 10:20). There is no other means of salvation (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
While some may be ignorant of who Jesus is and what He did for them, they are by no means deprived of any knowledge of what is right and wrong and of God’s existence. Paul tells us, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). God gave every person enough knowledge to know the truth. If people respond to their conscience which is awakened by God Spirit and call upon Him, God will reveal His full truth and grace to them.
Even in countries where preaching Christ is forbidden by law, God’s truth still finds its way to those who truly seek it. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” God is a just judge (Isaiah 45:21) and will judge every person according to the light he received.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
