SERMON - WHO WILL ENTER HEAVEN?

        WHO WILL ENTER HEAVEN?

In June 2001, at the time of performing a seminar, a question was asked.

 

"Will non-Christians be allowed to enter heaven?" An added word was voiced, " After all, belief in Jesus Christ is required to enter heaven."

 

After thought and prayer the following reply was given.

 

" I am not one to judge who or who not is going to be granted heaven by God. He alone will be the judge."

 

The initial questioner was asked, " What if a Jew that followed Judaism kept all 613 Mitzvah (Laws), and obeyed the Ten Commandments while leading a Godly life died. Would that man be sentenced to hell?"

 

Not a reply. Dead silence.

 

In Romans 11:1  It is written: ...has God rejected His people, the Jews?...

 

If you recall that Paul wrote this Book and was a of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Jew from Tarsus. As Christians we believe that Paul was saved. The question is, "what about the other Jews?"

 

Romans 11:2 ...No, God has not rejected His own people...

 

Romans 11:5 says: ..a few are being saved as a result of God's kindness in choosing them.

 

So, Jews were not rejected by God...at least a few were not. What happened is that God removed them from His 'tree,' so as to provoke jealousy within the Jewish people.

 

The Jews lost all rights to the promises of Salvation through disbelief. Yet, God, in His mercy and sovereign grace does fulfill His promise which he made to the Jewish forefathers. (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.) We must therefore see that God is the only Judge and He is saving 'a few.' So, "will Non-Christians be allowed to get into heaven?" Maybe...yes?

 

Romans 11:12 says: Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the Jews turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater the world will share when the Jews finally accept it.

 

We, the Gentiles spoken of, actually benefit from the disbelief of the Jews that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. He is the promised Messiah! It is our duty, a mature Christians, to share this with all. Especially the Jewish person. We are the adopted that God allowed to be 'grafted' into His tree.

 

Romans 11:17 But some of the branches from Abraham's tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off, and you (we) Gentiles, who were branches from the wild olive tree, were grafted in.

 

Some, I repeat SOME branches have been broken off. Abraham was the root (God Himself the source of leaf and fruit), and Israel the stem of the tree. The branches represent the Tribes of Israel, the Jews. When some faltered in their faith and were pruned, God, in His mercy and with His grace, allowed we Gentiles to be grafter in. It is with that same mercy that He kept His promises.

 

Romans 11:18 But you must be careful not to brag...you are just a branch, not the root.

 

We must be ever aware that as a branch we must not disparage those who do not yet believe. Were it not to fulfill God's purpose, we would not be amongst His branches. Who amongst us has the right to brag about this? God is the One who granted us His grace and mercy; no Gentile earned it! He gave it freely just as He gives Salvation.

 

If you meet ant man/woman  that has yet to be 'grafted in' as a branch of God's tree, PRAY for that person! Do not trample them; do not think less of them.  Pray for God to assist you in revealing His Word to any that will listen. Should your words fall on deaf ears, do not fault yourself. God will be that persons judge!

 

Who is God? He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Those 'branches' that were broken off failed to see and believe that Jesus Christ is a Person of God. Although Jesus was the subject of 324 prophesies of the Old Testament, which includes 40 prophesies within the Torah alone, that Jesus would walk amongst them, all too many refused to believe. He was the Promised Messiah. In reading Psalm 22, and I ask that you read this Psalm, you will be one to learn what so many Jews refused to see.

 

We must remember God's promise to Israel in Romans 11:5. It is God's WORD that says.."A few are being saved."

 

Now, to the heart of the matter.

 

Romans 11:25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles come to Christ.

 

Who are seen as the, "complete number of Gentiles?"

 

Maybe the Latter Day Saints, the Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims, Buddhists, Confucians, Shinto, and other non Christian faiths? It is your responsibility to be a bearer of The Good News. As a mature Christian  you must learn the Bible and be conversant in it's meanings. It is your duty...represent God and tell all of His mercy and grace.

 

(Closing prayer)

 

Lord, we praise you. You are our God and You have instructed us to tell the Good News to everyone. Please give us the strength to deliver Your message to not only fellow Christians but to non-believers as well with conviction. Lord we are weak but You are strong. Strengthen our faith and allow us to lead our fellow men to You. We realize that we cannot make them believe as You are the only power that can open their minds and ease their hardened hearts. God of righteousness forgive us our weaknesses and strengthen our resolve.

 

In Jesus name we pray who is One with You and the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever.

 

Amen, amen and amen

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Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com