How To Get To Heaven When You Die

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Hecklers

Oh, you're talking to me about loss? Hmmmm. At 42 years old I have seen my share and then some. My point is this - my emphasis is on the living, for the sake of the living. I am not living life so I can rest in paradise eternally. Whatever happens after death will take care of itself. I am living a life whose purpose is to create kids who are decent, to be a good neighbor, good dad, good husband, good son & brother.

I don't let someone else's opinion of what I have to do to get into Heaven trouble me a bit. If you believe in God, and Jesus - and you are talking about the bible, you cannot escape the fact that you are a mortal trying to interpret or explain the divine. Kind of a fancy way of me saying I think most proselytizing or evangelicalism is at best boloney, at worst depraved manipulation - the opiate of the masses.

Keep it to yourself - because unless you are somehow imbued with a greater degree of divinty than the rest of us mere mortals (like Dr. James Dobson believes he is), then your opinion counts equally as much as mine. Anything beyond that is hubris before God, in my mind.

Just my two cents.

Hecklers, that's an old saw, 'how dare you push your religion on me.' Or, maybe you forgot in which thread both you and I are posting.

That stuff about owning the divine isn't particularly original, either. I don't know anyone who thinks they know the length, the width and the height of God. On the other hand, for you to suggest that God is incapable of revealing some portion of himself to me is just nonsense. Now it is you who is placing limits on God.

I won't keep anything to myself, particularly on a thread entitled How to get to heaven when you die. My suggestion, don't post to threads like this if you don't want to hear peoples' opinions on the very subjest at hand. BTW, Jesus really loves you.

[Spartan2k]

'86, do you think I'm less of a believer because I don't push my beliefs on people and believe strongly in proselytizing and converting others?

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

'86, do you think I'm less of a believer because I don't push my beliefs on people and believe strongly in proselytizing and converting others?

Let's set aside for a moment the difference between being overbearing and caring enough to be assertive.

When you read the life of the Apostle Paul, what do you take away from it? See, I am taught of the word of God. My own reasonings and opinions may or may not line up with who God is and what he wants for my life. The bible is information that comes to me from outside my own mind and my own life experience and either it teaches me or I disregard it. I constantly change to be more in conformity with it's teaching or I just keep a copy of it in my car kind of like a good luck charm so that I don't have accidents.

I ask you, what does God teach you in the life of Paul? Granted, he is not Jesus, and we can get to him in a moment. What do you take from Paul?

[Golfnut]

Originally Posted by xfrodobagginsx

ARE YOU 100% SURE THAT IF YOU DIED TODAY THAT YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN?

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

1. REALIZE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER AND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR:

Ro 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Ro 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

This all began with the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. God created them perfect, there was no death or sorrow. God told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They disobeyed God and as a result, sin entered into the world. The pain which this world sees is the result of sin.

2. BECAUSE OF OUR SINS, WE DIE BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY, BUT GOD SENT HIS SON TO TAKE OUR PUNISHMENT AND GIVE US A CHANCE NOT TO HAVE TO GO TO HELL.

Ro 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Ro 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Every person who has ever lived is a sinner and is not righteous because we do bad things. A sin is a crime against God, just as if you steal something at the store, it is punishable by going to jail. It's the same thing with sin. Even if we lie one time, the punishment is hell, which is a prison for those who commit crimes against God. No matter how well you live your life from then on, you have already committed a sin which will be punished if you are not pardoned. If you commit a crime, and then live as a good citizen you still will go to jail for the crime you committed. Right? Just as the president can pardon a crime so you won't go to jail, Jesus can pardon your sins so that you do not go to hell, and can go to heaven when you die.

3. IF WE WILL ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD WITH OUR MOUTHS AND BELIEVE IN OUR HEARTS THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, BY DOING THIS WE ARE RECEIVING HIM:

Ro 10:9,10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: {power: or, the right, or, privilege}
(KJV)

You cannot get to heaven by being a good person, going to church, baptism or any other way other than by turning to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you for your sins and save you. While these are good things to do, some people believe that they will get to heaven if they do these things, but the bible says that there is only one way to heaven and that is through receiving what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you.

Will you do that today? If you will, you can be 100% sure that you will go to heaven when you die.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD FOR YOUR SINS? DO YOU ACCEPT WHAT HE DID FOR YOU TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS?

4. If you are willing to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior please pray this right now, from your heart to God,

"Dear LORD JESUS, I believe that YOU died on the Cross and Rose from the dead for my sins. I ask you to come into my heart and forgive me for my sins, take me to heaven when I die. I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus holy name, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer from your heart to God, and meant it with all of your heart, you are now a child of God and will go to heaven when you die.

Now that you are on your way to heaven, you should attend a bible believing church and follow in baptism.

pray the gay away.

[Island of misfit toys]

Christ came into the world to save sinners. In part, I know this because that's how I qualified.

[goState18]

If you want to explain existance with something you understand besides a higher being, I'd love to hear it. If you understood the big bang theory, you would realize how much bull**** it is.

[xfrodobagginsx]

Originally Posted by '86

I'm guessing just about everyone who has ever clicked on this thread knows your point. It's a balance, you have to care about people and give them the gospel. Giving people the gospel to rack up points in heaven and to acquit a religious duty isn't how it works.

Search your own heart, but if someone is going to err it's nice to see them err on this side of the road for once instead of everyone being all cool and not messing up that cool talking about Jesus. I'm your no. 1 fan.

Cym Jim, get saved m-f'er

Well, I certainly don't think it's an error to post the gospel and want the thread to keep going. Not everyone has the same approach to witnessing. I do agree that you need to love people, but to say that I am merely trying to rack up points in heaven is unfair. As mature believer, you aught to know that each member of "The true church" has a part to play. I don't believe that I have to have a relationship first with every person that I witness to. People need to know the truth in order to choose the truth. My pastor doesn't have a relationship with me, yet I learn from Him every week. Billy Grahm doesn't have relationship with 99% of his converts, yet they accept the gospel because he gave it and God prospered. That doesn't mean that He isn't loving them, simply because He isn't able to have a relationship with each of them. Perhaps I misinterpreted what you said but, I know that I am doing what The Lord wants me to do.

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by xfrodobagginsx

Well, I certainly don't think it's an error to post the gospel and want the thread to keep going. Not everyone has the same approach to witnessing. I do agree that you need to love people, but to say that I am merely trying to rack up points in heaven is unfair. As mature believer, you aught to know that each member of "The true church" has a part to play. I don't believe that I have to have a relationship first with every person that I witness to. People need to know the truth in order to choose the truth. My pastor doesn't have a relationship with me, yet I learn from Him every week. Billy Grahm doesn't have relationship with 99% of his converts, yet they accept the gospel because he gave it and God prospered. That doesn't mean that He isn't loving them, simply because He isn't able to have a relationship with each of them. Perhaps I misinterpreted what you said but, I know that I am doing what The Lord wants me to do.

This has been the best thread. If only there were more like them on every board. If only there were more people like yourself who love the approval of God more than the approval of men. I had simply asked you to 'search your heart'. Indeed, we do approach things differently and I need to learn from you and take you for inspiration. But now, enough about us, huh?

[Spartan2k]

Originally Posted by '86

Let's set aside for a moment the difference between being overbearing and caring enough to be assertive.

When you read the life of the Apostle Paul, what do you take away from it? See, I am taught of the word of God. My own reasonings and opinions may or may not line up with who God is and what he wants for my life. The bible is information that comes to me from outside my own mind and my own life experience and either it teaches me or I disregard it. I constantly change to be more in conformity with it's teaching or I just keep a copy of it in my car kind of like a good luck charm so that I don't have accidents.

I ask you, what does God teach you in the life of Paul? Granted, he is not Jesus, and we can get to him in a moment. What do you take from Paul?

A simple yes would have sufficed.

This is what I love about religion - some Christians telling other Christians that they are somehow better than them. Awesome.

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

A simple yes would have sufficed.

This is what I love about religion - some Christians telling other Christians that they are somehow better than them. Awesome.

A simple 'yes' would not have sufficed, that may have been taken as simply my opinion. Now you falsely imply that I am telling you that I am better than you, and you avoid the Bible. I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear. Consider opening up to truth whether it's truth that makes you feel good about yourself or not.

Don't get the idea that I think I have arrived because it's the furthest thing from the truth. If I have one advantage over you right now, it seems it's a willingness to have my soul laid bare to the word of God, to receive revelation of my own sinful nature, to receive revelation of where I'm failing to live my life worthy of the cross of Christ, and a willingness to try to change. I hope you won't filter out information that comes to you except for the type you want to hear.

[Spartan2k]

Originally Posted by '86

A simple 'yes' would not have sufficed, that may have been taken as simply my opinion. Now you falsely imply that I am telling you that I am better than you, and you avoid the Bible. I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear. Consider opening up to truth whether it's truth that makes you feel good about yourself or not.

Don't get the idea that I think I have arrived because it's the furthest thing from the truth. If I have one advantage over you right now, it seems it's a willingness to have my soul laid bare to the word of God, to receive revelation of my own sinful nature, to receive revelation of where I'm failing to live my life worthy of the cross of Christ, and a willingness to try to change. I hope you won't filter out information that comes to you except for the type you want to hear.

I realize that you think that you are 100% right in everything you say, but the reality is that you are actually very closed-minded by thinking that there is only one correct way to worship God, follow Christian teachings, pray, etc.

You are judging, just doing so in a way so that it appears that you are not. If you believe that you have the truth, but I don't, then you are essentially saying that you are right and I am wrong. Well, guess what? I'm willing to bet that neither of us are completely right. We both have our own beliefs and conceptions about God and Christianity, and that is actually OK. In the end, what we believe is actually pretty similar, but you go about voicing this and acting it in a much different way.

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

I realize that you think that you are 100% right in everything you say, but the reality is that you are actually very closed-minded by thinking that there is only one correct way to worship God, follow Christian teachings, pray, etc.

You are judging, just doing so in a way so that it appears that you are not. If you believe that you have the truth, but I don't, then you are essentially saying that you are right and I am wrong. Well, guess what? I'm willing to bet that neither of us are completely right. We both have our own beliefs and conceptions about God and Christianity, and that is actually OK. In the end, what we believe is actually pretty similar, but you go about voicing this and acting it in a much different way.

You ruined your own argument with the first clause of your first sentence. You continue to avoid the bible. If your Christianity isn't informed by the bible its a different Christianity. As you wish. But, all this started when you asked me.

[Island of misfit toys]

Here're a couple of songs by Garth Brooks directed at no one in particular for no particular reason. I find the music very moving even though I've now moved on to other music just as moving but this time informed by 'the good news'.

The Dance:

YouTube - The Dance

If Tomorrow Never Comes:

YouTube - Garth Brooks - If Tomorrow Never Comes

[Spartan2k]

Originally Posted by '86

You ruined your own argument with the first clause of your first sentence. You continue to avoid the bible. If your Christianity isn't informed by the bible its a different Christianity. As you wish. But, all this started when you asked me.

You keep making the same stupid uninformed argument. At no point have I even mentioned the Bible, nor said that I avoid it.

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

You keep making the same stupid uninformed argument. At no point have I even mentioned the Bible, nor said that I avoid it.

Ok, you win, or whatever. You asked my opinion about something and I gave it to you by directing you to the bible.

[Spartan2k]

Originally Posted by '86

Ok, you win, or whatever. You asked my opinion about something and I gave it to you by directing you to the bible.

So all of your opinions come directly from the Bible?

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

So all of your opinions come directly from the Bible?

All you do is tap dance around. You see, I have studied the Bible pretty closely, and will study some more. How could you possibly respond in a conversation around the Bible if your Christian religion has never led you to spend serious time reading it and thinking about it's messages. I'm not on you case, you are free. If you don't also use the Bible as a frame of reference then I don't know what there is to discuss. But, I'm not your problem, ok?

[Spartan2k]

Originally Posted by '86

All you do is tap dance around. You see, I have studied the Bible pretty closely, and will study some more. How could you possibly respond in a conversation around the Bible if your Christian religion has never led you to spend serious time reading it and thinking about it's messages. I'm not on you case, you are free. If you don't also use the Bible as a frame of reference then I don't know what there is to discuss. But, I'm not your problem, ok?

Ah, the irony.

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

Ah, the irony.

Sometimes called the Great Commission:

Mark 16:14-16 (King James Version)
14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

2 Timothy 4:4-6 (King James Version)
4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Matthew 10:26-28 (King James Version)
26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell

Romans 10:14-16 (King James Version)
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

John 17 (King James Version)
19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

2 Corinthians 11 (King James Version)
23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

[SpartanBrizz]

Originally Posted by xfrodobagginsx

Not much younger and the name kind of represents, for me, all Christians who truly take on the burden of sharing the gospel. It's good to have support. Not much for me. I do this on many other places. PM me your email address and I will send you my email address. I have something to talk to you about.

no ****. how a spam thread got this long is amazing

I knew LWS was insane....didn't realize he had company

[Island of misfit toys]

Originally Posted by SpartanBrizz

no ****. how a spam thread got this long is amazing

I knew LWS was insane....didn't realize he had company

First spam thread I've seen where the initiator is an active participant. First I've heard that believing in life after death is insanity, too. Is the problem that you are afraid of wishful thinking or is it that you know any God who can confer everlasting life will likely also judge the life that you are living now? One thing is for certain, there is too much anecdotal evidence of the paranormal to rule out Heaven out of hand.

[Island of misfit toys]

The accounts of three men who died and went to Heaven. The first, Ian McCormick, spoke at a conference I attended in Kansas City. This is part 4 of 9. The second is Don Piper, a Baptist preacher who, at the time, didn't believe such experiences happen today. The third is Bob Jones who can often be found at Morningstar Ministries in Charlotte, NC. One thing that gets emphasized time and again, Heaven is an actual place, it isn't just a state of mind.

Ian McCormick:

YouTube - A Glimpse Of Eternity Re-enactment Part 4 of 9

Don Piper:

YouTube - Heaven

Bob Jones.

YouTube - "Have you learned to love?" Jesus asked them- Divine Enc. 1

[xfrodobagginsx]

Originally Posted by Spartan2k

You keep making the same stupid uninformed argument. At no point have I even mentioned the Bible, nor said that I avoid it.

Can't you debate without getting a bad attitude? No need for the sarcasm. He wasn't being rude to you, then you got rude for no reason.

[Susie Creamcheese]

Originally Posted by '86

The accounts of three men who died and went to Heaven. The first, Ian McCormick, spoke at a conference I attended in Kansas City. This is part 4 of 9. The second is Don Piper, a Baptist preacher who, at the time, didn't believe such experiences happen today. The third is Bob Jones who can often be found at Morningstar Ministries in Charlotte, NC. One thing that gets emphasized time and again, Heaven is an actual place, it isn't just a state of mind.

Up until this point this thread was just another harmless "go ye therefore and preach" thread to make those involved feel good about themselves doing Jesus' work. From my perspective it's better done here, where it can be glossed over and ignored than in the public square where it can be truly annoying.

But this post just went over the edge into the realm of UFO's and Art Bell. Are you telling us that you actually believe that these jokers died, went to heaven and returned to tell everyone what it's like?

[Druidblue]

Originally Posted by '86

The accounts of three men who died and went to Heaven. The first, Ian McCormick, spoke at a conference I attended in Kansas City. This is part 4 of 9. The second is Don Piper, a Baptist preacher who, at the time, didn't believe such experiences happen today. The third is Bob Jones who can often be found at Morningstar Ministries in Charlotte, NC. One thing that gets emphasized time and again, Heaven is an actual place, it isn't just a state of mind.

Ian McCormick:

YouTube - A Glimpse Of Eternity Re-enactment Part 4 of 9

Don Piper:

YouTube - Heaven

Bob Jones.

YouTube - "Have you learned to love?" Jesus asked them- Divine Enc. 1

That first video is useful- I need to remember to pack sunglasses, since I HATE light- I've always preferred night to day and when I go out in the daytime I have to wear sunglasses. Nighttime has always been more majestic and mystical to me- and even indoors I sit in the dark rather than have lights on.

To do list: Pack sunglasses to take upon death.

The two things that bother me in these types of accounts is the type of "brainwashed" state of being you hear the "greeters" being in- if I'm dead, and wish to be sad or mad about something, I want to be able to experience those emotions, as they are necessary parts of the human soul. Having those feelings automatically supressed is not a positive thing in my book.

The other thing- however I attribute this to the story tellers, rather than any concrete actuality- is the Christian-zealot effect... I would be extremely out of place if upon death a group of my life soul encounters rushed towards me greeting me but also praising God. That is not only a pet peeve of mine, it makes my skin crawl. I believe you do not need to sound like a religious zealot in order to respect God or be properly spiritual.

My primary concern is, in the afterlife, 1.) How does the electrical system work so the computers run? 2.) What are the rules on sex, because if there is none, just send me away right then... that's no heaven. 3.) The ability to discuss your life lessons with others in order to improve your soul, and then reincarnate to wherever it may be, in whatever universe and form is necessary for your soul to continue improvement.
It's all about learning ultimate truths and progression of the soul.

I want to have my own slice of the afterlife, like in the movie "What Dreams May Come"- that's my hope on what the afterlife is like... (I love that movie)... I want to be able to have my own castle where it's always snowing (and it's cold but you're never freezing) and inside is stacked with the latest in technological games and gadgets, while Prince music is pumped out 24/7 in an in-castle replica of the 3121 nightclub.

Oh well, as I've always said, whatever there is, I'm going to be the best I can be at it. If it's non-existence, I'll be able to master that. If it's the traditional view of heaven, I'll be brainwashed, so whatever... but if there's a heaven and hell, and because of my evil thoughts or other silly slights against religion (despite being a perfectly good person in life) I get sent to a hell (I don't believe in hell for logic reasons)- then I will in fact be the very best demon I can be.