Who Deserve To Enter Heaven?

Love. Forgiveness. Mercy. Grace. Goodness. Compassion. Kindness. Generosity. Joy. These are characteristic traits of our Lord Jesus Christ. One who exhibits these characteristics is Christlike. He is bound to succeed here on earth and is on his way to paradise.

For example, when a woman caught in the very act of adultery was brought before Jesus by the Scribes (experts in the law of God also called lawyers) and Pharisees (religious leaders), Jesus was asked what he had to say. Under the Law of Moses, the penalty for the sin is death by stoning. This is also a violation of the ten commandments of God given through Moses. In their human wisdom, there was no more avenue for Jesus to exculpate (acquit) the woman. Therefore, the Scribes and Pharisees were expecting a judgment of guilty and condemnation by death, especially because in the New Testament, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

However, after some few moments of writing something in the sand before giving his answer, finally the Lord Jesus answered: “He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). Of course, no one is without sin, as the Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The Bible also says: “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst” (John 8:9). The woman was saved from being stoned to death, but the Lord Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more” (vs. 11).

This true story demonstrate very vividly love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, goodness, compassion, (kalo-oy in Visayan dialect; awa in Tagalog language), kindness. Surely, there was joy in the heart of the Lord Jesus, as much if not more than the “joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10 KJV). This is being Christlike.

Whatever sin we have committed, as soon as we BELIEVE, ACCEPT Jesus as our only LORD and SAVIOR, and REPENT, God generously bestows upon us the gift of ETERNAL LIFE (John 3:16; Rom. 6:23).

Christianity is about Christ and His loving, forgiving, merciful, gracious and compassionate gift of eternal life.

The characteristic traits of Jesus Christ shining through our life will make others see in us Christlikeness. Then, others will also want to know and accept Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior.

A Christlike person is a living and walking Bible. His life is a living sermon or preaching of the Word of God.

How will we know a Christlike person? The Lord Jesus Christ himself said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16 KJV). “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (vs. 20). What are these fruits? The Lord Jesus was referring to the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control) (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV), these are the character traits of a spiritual or born again person. In the conversation between lawyer-magistrate-pharisee Nicodemus, Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 KJV). He further clarified, “Except a man be born of water (in the flesh) and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (vs. 5). Only Christlike or “born again” people can enter the kingdom of God.

[FGBMFI Davao City Chapter Bulletin June 15, 2013]