Numerous religions, educators, and masters offer their interpretation of heaven, and how to arrive. So which is right?
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
As indicated in the question, there have been many spiritually-minded individuals in human history who have addressed that subject, but only one of them claimed to be God Himself, and validated that claim by rising from the dead to live forever. His word on the subject is therefore authoritative. And He said that placing faith in Him (and specifically in both His atoning death and resurrection) would allow an individual to receive forgiveness of sins and to exist eternally in God's presence. This is summarized by Jesus Himself most succinctly in John 3:16, and further concisely expressed by Paul in Romans 10:9. (However, the placing of faith in Christ also presupposes the individual's acknowledgement of the sin that Jesus died to deliver him or her from, and the inability of the individual to achieve that deliverance through any effort or action on his or her own part.)
There is only one way to get to heaven so know that the Romans Road says: - Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” - Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 10:9-10 “...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” - Romans 10:13 “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
Acts 16:29-32 "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." Believe that God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, made the sufficient payment on your behalf for the forgiveness of all your sins through His shed blood. Believe that He was dead, buried, but rose again for your justification. Believe this, the gospel of God's grace: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." God requires nothing for salvation other than to first have faith in Him (Eph 1:12). Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Galatians 3:22 "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." God gave His life in the flesh to show you how much He loves you. He only desires your love in return. Show Him your love by believing in His love for you (John 3:16, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Eph 1:12-13, Eph 4:30). Receive God's free gift of eternal life by having faith in Him: Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.