Who are they who will receive immortality? There are two things..
- Those that have (faith) = believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to die for our sins.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
- And those that have obeyed.
Revelation 22:14, Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
So those who will make it to heaven are those that have faith or those that believed and those that obeyed. And those who truly believed will do what?
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
So it is not enough to only believe or have faith but to prove you have faith is when it is accompanied by works. Meaning you will obey what God says.
So, the opposite of this true as well. If those that believe and obeyed will make it to heaven, those who do not believe and disobeyed will not make it to heaven but will suffer the death in the lake of fire.
Who are they that will not enter the kingdom of God?
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
What is the reason why their names were not found in the book of life? What have they done?
Revelation 21:8, “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.”
Most people fear who?
Matthew 10:28 And 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.
Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Why do these people will not make it to heaven?
If you can see, they have transgressed the commandments of God. Where are the commandments of God found? The major summary of God’s commandments is found in Exodus 20. Of course God has other specific commandments but those were derived from the main 10 commandments of God.
- Have no other gods before me
- Make no images = idols don’t serve them which is idolatry
- Don’t take the name of God in vein
- Remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy
- Honor your parents in the Lord
- Don’t kill
- Commit adultery
- Don’t steal
- Don’t lie
- Don’t covet neighbor’s goods
So if we look back at Revelation 21:8 we find murderers. What command has been transgressed? Commandment #6. What about idolaters? Commandment #2. What about liars? Commandment #9
If we look at Galatians 5:19-20 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Adultery? = #7
Fornication = #7
Murders = #6
Envying = #10
Thieves = #8
These fruits are fruits of sin.
What is sin?
1 John 3:4 – transgression of the law
If we want to enter into life, we have to keep the commandments but if we want to be destroyed, then disobey the commandments of God.
So if you transgress or disobey you will not enter heaven but will go to hell. Let us study hell next time. Where is hell, is hell existing now, or is it true that sinners will burn forever in hell?
How will transgressors die?
Malachi 4:1-3, “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.