How good do you have to be to get into heaven?

I can see that you are clearly searching for the truth, and that is good. you have gotten some very good advice from some people here, listen to some of it. It has to do will the the way we live our lives, and the attitudes that we hold to our hearts. You can be a “do gooder” your whole life, and it really wont do you any good. You have to know in your heart and soul that Jesus showed us the way by the way he lived his life and served God, and do your best to live up to His example. Narrow is the way that leads to God, and there are many things that will try and dog your every step, you have to be strong in your faith in God, and try to avoid these pitfalls. The only way God forgives sin, is by having the sin removed. (in other words, like he told the adulterous woman, “go and sin no more,”

Back to your original question, Paul asks exactly the same thing in one of his letters in the Bible (it’s an obvious question, you’re right!). It’s true that someone could live their life any way they like and then, knowing that death was imminent, make a truly repentant confession and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. (It seems clear that after death is too late - it needs to be done in this life.)

Firstly, there are a few practical details: How could they be certain they get the time to repent before they die - what about being in an accident and never regaining consciousness? They could believe they’ll manage the repentance part, but never get the opportunity. Oops.

Secondly, there are moral/spiritual details: We’re assuming that someone knows it’s true - Jesus has died for them to forgive their sins and keep them from Hell. How cynical would they have to be to say: ‘yes, I know that’s true, but I’m going to avoid any gratitude for that until the last minute, and then cash in on it without having lived gratefully’. I don’ t think that many people who truly believe in Jesus could be that cynical about not accepting Him until the last minute.

So your question, the same as St Paul’s, comes down to a matter of gratitude. Anyone who truly believes that Jesus has died for them and does have this power to keep them from Hell, won’t carry on cheerfully sinning all the way until death. The Christian life is simply a grateful response to Jesus. It doesn’t stop us from sinning in future, but it does make us uncomfortable with sinning, and keep us turning away from selfishness back to Jesus.

The title question: How good do you have to be? The basic answer: As good as God.

That’s the gift Jesus has given us in His sacrifical death - we are goodish but never good enough. Through accepting Jesus we are now seen through the lens, if you like, of Jesus, with all His perfection now resting on us. That’s why we’re grateful!

jazloves…I understand what you are saying, concerning rapists & murderers, however, I don’t think you understand the weight of salvation, or the price paid to obtain if. No offense meant.

Jesus desires that all should be saved. And when the bible talks about salvation, it is talking about a radical change coming into ones life. Things are never the same, once Jesus comes to live in ones heart. He comes to destroy the works of sin in ones life. Meaning, that he takes away the want to to sin.

Repent, means to have a heart change.

If you think of it this way, instead of a quick fix… then, you can better understand it.

Jesus gave everything that he had, to redeem sinful man.

His sacrifice paid the price, for everyone of us, good, bad, or ugly.

Sin is sin. Salvation is redemption from sin.

Some sins are greater, but, remember, in Gods eye, sin is sin, and needs to be atoned for.

That does not mean lip service.

It will take far more than that, on judgement day.

In fact, there will be many who will think they are saved, who actually aren’t.

The scarriest words I can imagine, are Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you. This coming from Jesus own lips.

If you think this is light weight stuff, you might want to read it again.

The best thing in the world, for a murder or rapist is to truly get saved.

They would no longer be the same as they were, they would be changed, and given a new nature.

Also, being saved does not deliver us from the consequences of our sins. We still have to pay the penalty for them, according to the earthly law. Occasionally you will hear of a dramatic change of venue, in the case of a convicted felon, but, this is the exception, rather than the rule.

Salvation, means that the spirit of that person, has been redeemed, but, the flesh, will still have to pay the price.

If you can see what true coversion actually is, then, you can understand the concept of murderers, being forgiven. God does not desire that any should be lost. However, that does not mean that all will be saved, it just means that this is his desire.

If someone saved your life would you thank them just so that you don’t seem like a jerk, or would you thank them because you were actually grateful for what they had done? The fact that you even ask these questions tells me you are not someone who can get by with being ignorant and blissful. I know, no fair, I feel the same way sometimes. Maybe what you have to gain by not being able to do whatever you want means you have a bigger role to play in life. So, you can’t wait till the end and say, oops, sorry God! You can however, use your intelligence for the good things like laughter and love and accept the insight God gave you, I hope you do!

its the matter that you can sin all your life and in the end if god truly beleives that you are sorry for your mistakes you are forgiven.

Thats like, taking atvantage of God for one thing. For another thing, you dont know when you die, it could happen 20 minutes or in 20 years. Maybe even in 20 weeks. You never know.

The way to get in to heaven, is to have God as your lord and savior. And ask forgiveness for your sins. Its so simple…to get in…but its also so simple to not.

because after you ask for forgiveness your supposed to try to be a better person, not just continuously repeat those mistakes.

& you have to be saved, not be GOOD.

Not all will go to Heaven . You have to be saved by the blood of Jesus first . then repent of your sins . That means once you have repented of your sins you are not to them over and over again . you are to live your life right as your bible says . you do not go to heaven on works of good alone sorry . Only those who are saved will go . Yes if a rapiest was saved and a murder was saved yes they would go to heaven .

good girls go to heaven… bad girls go everywhere…

as far as transvestites are concerned…we may never know… O_o

lol…I dont like religion…and thats one of the things I dont like about it you could be a murderer, have raped someone…started a war…even worse still and all you have to do is ask for forgivness and want to be saved… and then that makes everything okay…your forgiven …I think thats one of the most rediculous things to teach people and one of the most rediculous things people could learn, or say to othrer people!

Rainbow it dont work that way lol but nice to wish I guess

because you have to believe in god and actualy be repentent of your sins. the only way to heaven is through jesus duh!

apparently not that good if killers & rapiest can go to heaven, just stating.

I think that it all depends on how you live your life. I mean no one will know whats good or bad! Only god knows! And us when we die

No one knows till they die. No one will really know if there is a Heaven or hell till they die.