Why should you get into heaven?

[Shawn Lazar]

Hello all,

In his book 'Fundamentals of the Faith', popular Catholic apologist and Boston College professor of philosophy, Peter Kreeft, found that "well over three-quarters of all the "educated" Catholic college students I have taught do not know, after twelve years of catechism classes, how to get to heaven!" (p. 15). I was wondering if the same problem would apply to Orthodox people as well.

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

So what would you say?

-Climacus

[Antonios]

"Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar."

[Matthew Panchisin]

I think for starters I'd mention to Kreeft, the popular Catholic apologist and Boston College professor of philosophy that I have not read his book 'Fundamentals of the Faith'. Then I'd mention, because I didn't follow the "Successor of Christ" the Pope.

Actually the response of Antonis would work very well according to the Orthodox Church Fathers, the demon that asked such a question would flee.

We could ask him a philosophical question? Does he think dying yesterday, today and tomorrow are that much different?

In the Church of the Seven Ecumenical Councils her councils and her Bishops and Priests are "set in place" to rightly divide the word of Gods truth. In the Icon of Christ of Ancient Days and reading Daniel a servant of the living God therein we can hear "I watched till thrones were put in place And the Ancient of Days was seated."

We have seen in the response of Antonis that the Orthodox move towards where they move now. As you know one can read about reaping what one sows in the Bible.

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisin

[Shawn Lazar]

Thank you, Matthew,

I only mentioned Kreeft as an aside. So what would you say to God if he asked you the question I posted?

Humbly,
S

[Rick H.]

Dear Shawn,

This is a fair question that you ask. And, I will not insult you by parroting back the answers that are supplied by EE (Evangelism Explosion) to this question.

But, partially because of the late hour, I will share with you, in short, while in this circumstance, I actually picture myself falling to the ground on my face and remaining mute, if I were to remain conscious and attempt an answer it, my answer would not include anything that I did during a moment of decision or an hour of decision.

In Christ,
Rick

[Nina]

And, I will not insult you by parroting back the answers that are supplied by EE (Evangelism Explosion) to this question.

In Christ,
Rick

Rick, what is Evangelism Explosion please?

Shawn, as the other brothers in Christ before mentioned, God's mercy is the key word.

[Rick H.]

Dear Nina,

If I remember correctly EE was founded by D. James Kennedy in Florida. The question that Shawn asked is the first question one asks (as a diagnostic tool) as one works his way systematically through a series of steps with the goal in mind of determining that one is 'saved' or one needs to pray 'the sinners prayer' and conversion.

Here's a link to the EE website that would answer other questions:

Evangelism Explosion International (http://www.eeinternational.org/DYKFS/dykfs.htm)

But, again, this is not to dismiss the question, because here as elsewhere I think a very fruitful conversation could easily take place with the potential for learning for all involved. As we consider what our part is and what God's part is, this could be very interesting (as Artie Johnson used to say :)

In Christ,
Rick

[Nina]

Dear Nina,

But, again, this is not to dismiss the question, because here as elsewhere I think a very fruitful conversation could easily take place with the potential for learning for all involved. As we consider what our part is and what God's part is, this could be very interesting (as Artie Johnson used to say :)

In Christ,
Rick

No, no, I did not ask with the purpose to dismiss the question, just for my own edification. The question of Shawn was very interesting also because BC (Bos. Col.) holds a special place in my heart, although I have no idea who the professor mentioned is.

In any case, the answer is simple: God's mercy. Also I just asked my fiance, who is baptized Catholic (although he attends the Orthodox Church now - thank God!) and went to a catholic school and he replied: "Because we love God and God loves us and He is merciful."

[M.C. Steenberg]

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

God would not ask that question.

INXC, Matthew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Hello all,

In his book 'Fundamentals of the Faith', popular Catholic apologist and Boston College professor of philosophy, Peter Kreeft, found that "well over three-quarters of all the "educated" Catholic college students I have taught do not know, after twelve years of catechism classes, how to get to heaven!" (p. 15). I was wondering if the same problem would apply to Orthodox people as well.

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

So what would you say?

-Climacus

Over my years in our parish I have been able to first minster to and then bury 25 of our people.

This has taught me one thing for sure. What counts for most all through this time is a repentant spirit. This profoundly affects how a person dies and then appears before God.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Herman Blaydoe]

The question is a non sequitor. As has already been stated, God would not, will not ask it. This is, of course, a direct reflection of what is often referred to as the difference between "eastern" and "western" approaches to theology, accidental geography notwithstanding. We were created for Heaven, we belong in Heaven, but many of us spend our whole lives as if we didn't. At some point, however, we will all stand in His Awesome Presence. Some of us will say "it is good for us to be here!". Others may say, "I hate it here!" The former will be in Heaven, the latter will be in Hell and there will be a chasm between them.

When everything we have done has been revealed then only sincere repentence can bear it. I pray that my repentence is sincere, place my trust in Christ, and I will go stand whereever He tells me to. I hope it will be on His right with the sheep and not on His left with the goats!

I prefer the other rhetorical question: If being a Christian was illegal, would there be enough evidence (beyond a reasonable doubt) to convict you?

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I prefer the other rhetorical question: If being a Christian was illegal, would there be enough evidence (beyond a reasonable doubt) to convict you?

That's very good! I'll have to remember that for a homily.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[John Charmley]

If being a Christian was illegal, would there be enough evidence (beyond a reasonable doubt) to convict you?

Ah, now it's my turn to say I don't understand. It is legal in this society and millions don't believe - what sort of 'evidence' would exist in a society where it was illegal to believe? Indeed, what has 'evidence' to do with belief? I always liked the comment of the Anglican vicar who confirmed me who, in response to such a question said: 'It's called faith because it requires the humility to accept His Word without being able to put your fingers into His side.'

In Christ,

John

[Effie Ganatsios]

I have to agree that God would not ask such a question. He knows what is in our hearts and his love would cover me. How would I feel though?

Deeply, deeply ashamed that I was not the person He meant me to be.
Ashamed that I had allowed the soul I should have protected as the most precious thing I owned, to become soiled through greed, laziness, pride, etc.

In anguish because I did not have enough faith to believe that everything that happened in my life was because He permitted it to happen. Thy Will be Done on my lips and wanting my will to be done in my heart. And finally, deep, deep joy when I finally realize that all things are as they should be and that I had come home.

[Herman Blaydoe]

what sort of 'evidence' would exist in a society where it was illegal to believe? Indeed, what has 'evidence' to do with belief?

Not "evidence" of God, but evidence that you believe in God, oh like say: "But the fruit {evidence?} of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

"Against such there is no law." Ah, but what if there was? Would a good lawyer be able to get an innocent plea, that is, PROVE that you were NOT a Christian to a jury of your peers?

[John Charmley]

Dear Herman,


Would a good lawyer be able to get an innocent plea, that is, PROVE that you were NOT a Christian to a jury of your peers?

Ah, as you well know, a good lawyer 'proves' nothing - except that there is 'reasonable doubt' about what the other lawyer says - which is why our attitude towards lawyers so often has to reveal the qualities mentioned by St. Paul; but whisper it quietly.

In Christ,

John

[Shawn Lazar]

Dear all,

That's funny, I had no idea that question was part of Evangelism Explosion, though I think I've heard of that program somewhere.

In any case, one of Kreeft's criticism of his Catholic students was that they almost never mentioned anything about Jesus being the reason why God should let them into heaven. They always pointed to something else like sincerity, the fact that they tried their best, that they worked for peace, etc., as possible reasons. But they almost never mentioned Jesus.

I realize that only a handful of people have answered so far, but I notice that only Herman mentioned the work of Christ as a specific reason for our salvation.

I assume that there is no division between east and west on this point, because the Bible is so clear about it, and since the whole purpose of the Creeds was to explain why Christ had to be divine so his incarnation, sacrifice, and resurrection would be salvifically effectual for those who believe.

-Shawn

[Kieran P.]

Good point, Climacus, and although it was correctly pointed out earlier that God wouldn't ask such a question, the rhetoric was sound by Kreeft, since it drew from his students a shakey response to a fundamental question.

The answer is, of course, Jesus, but what a curious discussion must have ensued in his classroom that day!

God bless...

[Nina]

I realize that only a handful of people have answered so far, but I notice that only Herman mentioned the work of Christ as a specific reason for our salvation.

-Shawn

Yes, Herman is right that Christ (as the Fathers say) is the reason. He was Incarnated, Crucified and Resurrected because of God's mercy for humans. So God's mercy made it possible for us through Christ. Also as Fathers say there is no reconciliation between man and God, but Christ is He, Who leads man to God.

Also when Adam and Eve were asked about their transgression, if they had humbled themselves and had asked God to be merciful and forgive them, He would have.

And as the others say here, God does not ask that question because when a person dies, as Fathers of the Church say, that person experiences God's love according to his state (as Father Raphael mentions). Who has achieved theosis experiences love as light, and who has remained unrepentant experiences it as burning.

[Paul Cowan]

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

So what would you say?

-Climacus

I was told by an Orthodox priest, if God does ask you a question it may be "What did you learn?" or perhaps "How did you show Love?"

Paul

[Marianthy]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I find that question scandalous!

How could we, lowly sinners, even comprehend, or think that we could comprehend, how we will be judged? As Orthodox Christians, I don't think we should waste our time on such questions, just resolve ourselves to the fact that in every moment in our lives, whether awake or asleep, we sin, and that our only hope for salvation is through the incredible sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May the Most Holy Theotokos intercede on the behalf of all of us!

In Christ,
Marianthy

[Max Percy]

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

So what would you say?

-Climacus

I shouldn't

[Shawn Lazar]

"I shouldn't"

Now THAT's a great answer.

Its tied, I think, to the one given by Marianthy. But Marianthy, I don't think the question is scandalous at all. Certainly the goal of the Christian life is to be united with God, ie: get to heaven. So the natural question is, how is that possible? Nothing scandalous about that. Besides, you've given an answer... we are saved "through the incredible sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

~S

[Andreas Moran]

I was taught that we have to keep a sort of tension between an expectation that we will not be saved with the hope that we shall be: 'Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.' This word of Christ to St Silouan the Athonite is the antidote to the pride which would keep us from slavation. If we contemplate hell and condemn ourselves, we slough off our 'garment of skin' and Christ, seeing our humility and brokenness, grants us grace to find rest in Him: ' . . . be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the might hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time' (1 Peter 5:6). We descend in repentance and ascend in faith. Humility attracts grace which illumines our sinful self. By remembrance of our sins, even though that have been forgiven, we retain compunction: ' . . . pass judgment on thyself, exact thine own penalty. Listen to Paul, when he saith, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." If thou do this, proceeding in order thou shalt even arrive at a crown' (St John Chrysostom, Homily XLI on Matthew). The compunction which comes from self-condemnation gives us the courage to hope and not depair because 'nothing equals or excels God's mercies' (St John Climacus, The Ladder, 5:38).

The world's tragedy is that though we are in capitvity to our imagination and passions, greater scope for indulging the passions is urged upon us. By keeping our minds in hell and not despairing, we pass from captivity in sin to freedom in the Spirit of God and so may attain to eternal life.

[Michael Albert]

I was taught that we have to keep a sort of tension between an expectation that we will not be saved with the hope that we shall be: 'Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.' This word of Christ to St Silouan the Athonite is the antidote to the pride which would keep us from slavation.

I love St Silouan! :)

[Seraphim H.]

Hello all,

In his book 'Fundamentals of the Faith', popular Catholic apologist and Boston College professor of philosophy, Peter Kreeft, found that "well over three-quarters of all the "educated" Catholic college students I have taught do not know, after twelve years of catechism classes, how to get to heaven!" (p. 15). I was wondering if the same problem would apply to Orthodox people as well.

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

So what would you say?

-Climacus

God would not ask that question. Our hearts are our judges.

[Effie Ganatsios]

I was told by an Orthodox priest, if God does ask you a question it may be "What did you learn?" or perhaps "How did you show Love?"

Paul

Exactly.

Sadly I know that I am going to be so ashamed of myself.
I did not love my fellow man as I should have. I did not entrust my life completely to God as I should have. I did not utilize the gifts he bestowed on me to His glory.

Need I go on?

But God is merciful and full of Love. His will be done. He will not ask anything, He will look at me with love and sadness and my soul will shrivel. I will only then realize the extent of my misery. Being without God is being in hell. 'Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.'

Effie



""For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God " (Romans 3:23.)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

[Alice]

God would not ask that question. Our hearts are our judges.

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I don't think that we should be focusing on if God would or would not ask the question or if it was Orthodox or not Orthodox, etc....it was simply a rhetorical question posed for the student audience to make them *think* of what spiritual merits one thinks that he or she has. (something which any one who has or has had recently a college student will know that they don't often like to think about their death and thus, their salvation--I can't say that I thought much about such matters when I was that age either)..

It is very much like the scenario we often hear about at the Last Judgement where all our sins will be revealed...

Like my priest likes to say, I will have no excuses, I will only say "Lord have mercy"...

Indeed, I agree....

In Christ,
Alice

[Margaret S.]

I was reading about Mother Theosemni of the Holy Convent of Chrysopigi, Chania (Crete) this morning and came across this in her sayings collected by the sisters:

Let us love Christ so much that the only thing we desire is for His will to be done. Just before he died, Father Porphyrios left a letter in which he wrote: “Now that I am leaving for heaven I feel that God is going to stay to me: ‘What business do you have here?’. I have only one thing to reply: ‘I am not worthy, Lord, to be here but do with me whatever Your Grace wills.’”.

You see? Don’t seek to be repaid: “I do A and I get 10 pence, I do B and I get 20 pence.” Things don’t work like that. Let us do what we can for Christ without asking for any reward. And if now and then God gives us something, the only thing we should think is: “Glory to You, O God! I thank You, my God. I am worthless. Glory to God!”.

Regards
Margaret
in Edinburgh

[Alice]

Dearest Margaret,

Ofcourse all you say is correct, dear sister in Christ! I love your quote from Elder Porphyrios, a future saint whose life, advice and book I found most inspiring.

*My* answer at this point in my spiritual path would be: "I shouldn't".

As my priest says, he will just say 'Lord have mercy'...That is all I will ever be able to say as well, but we must remember that this is how *we*, who already have a deeply committed spiritual life and understanding think. For one to accept that he/she is a miserable sinner worthy of nothing from our Lord is a profoundly deep step in the spiritual growth of committed Christians and one that few teens and college students have attained.

The point in this question to the college class was to actually make these kids *think*, because, generally most of them do not have a spiritual life nor do they really think too much about God, religion, salvation, etc...

Trust me, unless one lives in the Bible Belt of the U.S. (where Christianity permeates so profoundly in all aspects of life that all traditions are affected--the most Christ centered young cradle American born Orthodox we ever met were at a wedding we attended in Mobile, Alabama--even at the wedding reception, just about every wedding attendee of 400 guests was talking about Christ, glorifying Christ, and giving thanks to Christ-- at the tables, in their conversations, in their toasts and speeches!! ), few young people in Western Europe and the majority of the United States, are that deeply and commitedly religious.

So it often takes catchy superficial questions to have them wade into the profound area of accepting to even think about their salvation!

I have heard similar types of questions also posed by Orthodox youth workers and priests in their ministry. The final answer given by all these professors, priests and youth workers is usually the one we know, but before offering it as spiritual food for thought, one must start at point A to get there.

I humbly offer this because I have taught catechism classes to teens, and have followed my archdiocese's youth ministries and their approaches when my own adult children were teen participants.

In Christ,
Alice :)

[Margaret S.]

The point in this question to the college class was to actually make these kids *think*, because, generally most of them do not have a spiritual life nor do they really think too much about God, religion, salvation, etc...


Dear Alice

I am almost never right which is why I had nothing to contribute until I came across the same question in something by Mother Theosemni :) It was entirely hers, none of mine, and I thought it pertinent to the original post and the thread in general rather than your post immediately above it.

You are, however, absolutely right when you say this is how *we* think. I can see how asking such a question might make someone who doesn’t think this way consider their state. I suppose it is a bit like St Paul saying he would be all things to all men so that he might save some. We must ask all sorts of questions in order to get some to think about their answers.

I think one of the things that is very difficult when talking to young people about this is that it’s almost impossible for them to have any real sense of their own mortality. When I see young girls out at night, barely half dressed and more than half drunk, I tend to think of them at 30 with the scars of broken hearts or abortions or alcohol problems rather than as old people about to die. They know the majority of people in contemporary Europe and America live to be relatively old and they think they have plenty of time to worry about death when they finally are old. It would be good if we could find ways of making them think about what constitutes a truly joyous life while they are living it and before they commit the sins there is no real recovery from in this life.

Margaret

[Alice]

Dear Alice

I think one of the things that is very difficult when talking to young people about this is that it’s almost impossible for them to have any real sense of their own mortality. When I see young girls out at night, barely half dressed and more than half drunk, I tend to think of them at 30 with the scars of broken hearts or abortions or alcohol problems rather than as old people about to die. They know the majority of people in contemporary Europe and America live to be relatively old and they think they have plenty of time to worry about death when they finally are old. It would be good if we could find ways of making them think about what constitutes a truly joyous life while they are living it and before they commit the sins there is no real recovery from in this life.

Margaret

Dear Margaret,

Christ is among us!

The above is so, so sad and so, so true. I lament so much when such young men and women are taken by sudden death, without ever having the opportunity to get older and wiser and repent. I think of the young Colonel Andrei, the husband of St. Xenia of Petersburg who lived the partying life expected of someone of his rank in court, and how he died in a drunken stupor without opportunity to repent. St. Xenia, the precious fool for Christ, gave up everything she owned and knew after his death to repent in his uniform and his name for the rest of her life. At the end of her life, pious tradition tells us that God revealed to her that He granted the request and pain of her homeless, wondering and almsgiving life, and granted her precious husband, Andrei's salvation.

Not many who face sudden death have a saint to offer their earthly lives for their salvation. NOt many even have one solitary person to offer a brief prayer that the Lord forgive them their sins, no less, memorial prayers of the Orthodox tradition.

This generation is deceived by the evil one in all his pleasurable guises as no other has ever been--May our Lord God have mercy on them!!

In Christ,
Alice

[Margaret S.]

This generation is deceived by the evil one in all his pleasurable guises as no other has ever been--May our Lord God have mercy on them!!

Dear Alice

You are right. All the old mechanisms and safety catches that used to protect most kids have completely broken down. As the now very old Cole Porter song goes, "the world's gone mad today and good's bad today, and black's white today and day's night today..."

Thank you for mentioning St Xenia. She is wonderful. And thank you also for reminding me of all those who have no-one to offer up even one prayer for them.

Margaret

[Anna K.]

Dear Alice and Margaret and all,

Thank you for your thoughtful posts, it's true that many people have no one to pray for them. But they have hope also - in our morning prayers the Church prays for the Lord to remember those departed ones who have no intercessors.
This is so comforting I think, since at least for the moment I for example would have no family member to pray for me at church since they are not Orthodox. But God willing, hopefully that will change...

In Christ
Anna K

[Peter M]

So what would you say?
-Climacus

I converted from a "soulwinning, fundamental baptist" belief. I used to ask this question all the time: "If you were to die today, are you 100% sure you would go to heaven?"

The correct answer was: "Yes, because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ alone." People who said, "I hope so," (which was most people), were given a quick 6-point run down the "Romans Road," showing them why they must put their faith in Jesus alone.

I remember being rebuked by a pastor for mentioning the doctrine of repentance to a prospect once.

That got me to thinking... Some months later, I left that organization and joined the Orthodox Church. I realized that repentance in Christ is one of the biggest joys a human being can experience. And it is not a one-time only proposition. It's best when done daily.

I pray that I can keep on this path and I think that repentance is towards the center of this answer.

[Priest Seraphim Holland]

Hello all,

In his book 'Fundamentals of the Faith', popular Catholic apologist and Boston College professor of philosophy, Peter Kreeft, found that "well over three-quarters of all the "educated" Catholic college students I have taught do not know, after twelve years of catechism classes, how to get to heaven!" (p. 15). I was wondering if the same problem would apply to Orthodox people as well.

The question Kreeft would ask is: "If you should die tonight and God asks you why he should let you into heaven, what would you answer?"

So what would you say?

-Climacus

This is a Campus Crusade for Christ "Four Spiritual Laws" question. I asked it many times in the halls of the Purdue student union and on the beaches of New Jersey. It was one of the things that led me to Orthodoxy (but my poor "discipler", Steve, must still think that I am terribly "backslidden"!) . I learned that Protestants try to define, but Christians become. This is not a question that an Orthodox Christian thinks God would ask. It is a legalistic question. Salvation is not legalistic. It is about becoming holy.

Priest Seraphim
http://www.orthodox.net

[Owen Jones]

there is no one size fits all answer were someone to ask me that question. Remember the thief on the cross?

[Shawn Lazar]

Fr., Is it a legalistic question? I don't see how. I guess the nature of the question will depend on what you think the nature of the answer is. In fact, the question is just a rewording of something a jailer asked the apostles: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

The requirement is made quite clear by the apostles who answered: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:30-31)"

Which, of course, is what St. John said about Christ: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (3:16) And as St. Paul assured Timothy: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

If we believe in Jesus we receive eternal life.

And Sts. John and Paul were only repeating what Christ said about himself. For instance, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24) Also, when he spoke to Martha at Lazarus' resurrection: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." (John 11:25-27) "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

Why should we get into heaven? What must we do to be saved? Not for any legalistic reason. Indeed, the gospel is "good news" precisely because it is not legalistic! Simply: Believe in Jesus! What else can we do, but that?

In Him,
Shawn

[Paul Cowan]

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my[e] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[f] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[g]And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

It is much more than just believing. This leads to once saved always saved. Or when I talk to young people ask if they believe in Jesus, they say sure; as if it's no big deal. When I ask them if they go to church, they say my grandmother goes to church and she prays for me as if this is all they need. There is more to each of the scriptures you quoted, than just believing in Jesus.

Even the demons believe; yet they tremble. Man was so brazen he crucified God. Who is to be saved? Only God knows.

The blind man was cured and told to go wash
The paralytic was cured and was told to sin no more
Tabitha was brought back to life and told to eat
The centurian's slave was cured because the centurian came to ask for help
The other blind man was cured and was told be it done unto your faith
The lepers were cleansed and told to go to the priest

We have to DO something in order to receive from God. Nothing is free except His love. Salvation as St. Paul says is like running a race. I hope I am not last.

Paul

[Peter M]

Having come from the "believe only" camp, I must now declare that I now agree with the "we must do something" camp. And that's only because I sense that many Western and Modern folk don't really get the concept of "salvation" as Jesus and His disciples would have understood it. I am not saying that I comprehend it much at all, but I sure like the concept of "synergism," that God's gift and man's effort is the vehicle that gets us there. And, perhaps more importantly, it's not a one-time declaration of faith, as enshrined in the manifold "sinners prayers" available everywhere from the back-reaches of the Internet to your doorstep on a Saturday morning, but a process. We are being saved, not just saved (past perfect tense). But let us not cast aspersions on the doorstep sinner's prayer, it may indeed be the planting of the pine nut of faith that grows into the redwood of spiritual life.

In yesterday's Gospel reading, Jesus said this: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13). Seems to me there is an impetus on us not losing the love of Christ, which is the key ingredient, perhaps, in His salvation. I've seen an awful lot of "saved" Christians walk away from their faith, choosing the world, while yet relying on a long-ago foray into "religion" as their distant hope in case this fairy tale stuff proves to be true once they slam the lid on the box. Well, it's getting late and I pray that I am making sense...

[Aidan Kimel]

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch decided to go on holiday. He was asked by his followers how he could indulge himself in such frivolity. Rabbi Hirsch responded that when, after death, he would come before God, God would ask him, “Shimshon, why didn’t you see my Alps?”

[Ilaria]

It seems to me that we'd rather ask God than He us
But, most probably, the question will start with "when" and not "Why"
the humble ones will ask when did I do that or that because they would not find in themselves anything worthy for Heaven
the proud ones will ask when did I not do that or that because all their life they counted what their "right" hand was doing

Sorry for turning the question on the other side;

[Nicolaj]

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch decided to go on holiday. He was asked by his followers how he could indulge himself in such frivolity. Rabbi Hirsch responded that when, after death, he would come before God, God would ask him, “Shimshon, why didn’t you see my Alps?”

As many of the Fathers said: "Do not spoil any time by going here, there and everywhere to look up your little projects. Better to sit down, repent and pray and see once the beauty of the Kingdom of God!"

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Alice]

As many of the Fathers said: "Do not spoil any time by going here, there and everywhere to look up your little projects. Better to sit down, repent and pray and see once the beauty of the Kingdom of God!"

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

I think the gist of the good Rabbi's statement is that besides being religious, it is also good to be spiritual and to take time to see the beauty around us as the handiwork of God's creation. We don't need to take a vacation for that ofcourse, but I don't think that taking a vacation/a retreat from everyday life is a bad or sinful thing. Even priests take vacations!

Most of us are not monastics, and thus, our lives can be bogged down with the of the mundane business of the layman's every day life in this modern world--raising children, taking care of husbands, working for our daily bread, going on countless errands, etc., etc., etc., and though, as devout Orthodox christians we may take the time to say our prayer rules and to go to church, we may be missing the beauty of God's creation all around us...

On the other hand, the monastic may not be as busy with the mundane as we are, but he too sees and appreciates God's creation all around, and I am sure that is the reason that monasteries are so often located in breathtaking spots of natural beauty.

Just some thoughts... :)

In Christ,
Alice