You will NOT Get to Heaven Based On Your Works!

A lot of Christians believe their Christianity or maintain their Christianity or somehow conclude their Christianity by salvation being established, kept or preserved by works. It's human nature, as fallen as it is, to assume the responsibility of works and in many cases it can be commendable, but not when it comes to your salvation.

You will NOT get to heaven based on your works. Jesus did the work to get you into heaven. As a born again Christian, the Holy Spirit dwelling within you will cause works to come out of your life. Words, deeds, actions, but it doesn't save you. It's just evidence that you are saved.

Don't make the mistake thinking you can work your way into heaven. That's an abomination. The unsaved will be condemned by their works, while the saved are rewarded for their works. That is exactly what the Bible teaches.

We start to approach God on our merits. We have good weeks so we attribute that to how much God must love us and we must be doing good in His eyes. But that is NOT how God loves us. That's not how we relate to Him or even love Him.

Because we have a true living relationship with the LORD, that new life produces good works, but we are not saved by them. It's just proof we are saved. You don't have to work your way into heaven and any religion that tells you that is false. That is why Jesus said, "It is finished," as He hung on the cross dying for our sins. He gave His life that we might be saved.

What is required of you?

Jesus said, "This is the work, to believe on Him, whom God has sent." That is the work you are to do. Singular! From that life flows a life of works as proof that you have been saved, and have faith in Christ.

Does the return of Jesus Christ excite you? If not, why not? If you are afraid, perhaps something in your life isn't right. Will you now open your heart and give up everything for Christ today? Perhaps finally give up after all these years...your status, your religion, your position and give everything up to Jesus and humble yourself before Him? All your righteousness? Give it up!

Revelation 22:12-17 ~ "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Why should you come? Because Jesus Christ is the reality.

Revelation 22:12a ~ "And behold, I am coming quickly..." 

No less than six times does Jesus teach us about His return, twice as a warning (Revelation 2:5,16) and four times as a promise (Revelation 3:11, 22:7, 12, 20).

Why Jesus Christ?

He is our only hope! He could come suddenly and without warning! There is nothing worth living for in this world, if we don't have Jesus. He promised He would come the first time, and He'll come back as He has promised again for the second time! When death comes to us in this life, it is merely a doorway to eternity.

Jesus Christ is the reward.

Revelation 22:12b ~ "My reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work."

This is not a verse for justification for salvation by works as many would quote and point to, when they read this. Salvation is apart from works, says the Bible. But the LORD will give rewards according to the words which the Christian, the one who has come to Jesus, has done while in this world!

You and I will be rewarded for every penny that we've invested in work of the Lord. You and I will be rewarded for every effort that we've made to tell others about Jesus and His love for them. You and I will be rewarded for every act of obedience to Christ while in this life.

Matthew 13:23 ~ "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces; some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty."

Here's a simple, but powerful self-test to determine if you are a real, fruit-bearing Christian...What "effect for Christ" have you left people? His reward will be the "complete redemption" of our person. It needs to be for God's glory and not ours!

Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, not the Great White Throne judgment, not to determine salvation and our entrance into heaven, but to determine our rewards and our intents on our works whether for our glory or for Jesus'!

What will you do today for the glory of Jesus?