The "Bible Way to Heaven" vs. What the Scriptures Actually Say

Surfing churches' websites, invariably one finds something along the lines of 'how to get to heaven.' I don't know why, but so many of them make this so much more complicated than it really is. The following example is typical. I found it on the website of a church that professes to believe the Authorized Version of the Bible is the "infallible and inerrant" word of God, "the absolute final authority for all matters of faith and practice and for all matters of life" It goes like this ... The Bible Way to Heaven

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 1. Realize- You have sinned. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Ecclesiastes 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” 2. Understand- We’ve earned eternal death for our sin. Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death.” Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” 3. Know- Jesus Died in your place for you. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 4. Believe- Salvation is a Free Gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Romans 6:23b “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 5. Repent and Receive God’s Gift.  You can’t earn salvation, it is received as a free gift. Mark 1:15b “repent ye, and believe the gospel.” John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” To repent is to turn from something.  To be saved, you must turn from trusting in your own good works, your religion, your heritage and anything else except the Lord Jesus Christ, and put your faith completely in him to save you from your sins.  You accept the gift of eternal life by believing in your heart that he has died for you and is risen from the dead.  When you call upon him to save you, you are demonstrating that you are trusting in him and him alone to save you.  Nobody can make this choice for you, it is up to you personally to believe on him.

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But is this really the right answer to 'how do I get to heaven?' Would Jesus have given such a mini-discourse when asked that question? No, he wouldn't have. Jesus would have said something like this ...

" ... I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

It's as simple as that. That is the Bible way to heaven.

So, why do so many churches post these long lists of verses and explanations on their websites ostensibly guiding lost souls into the true way? Why do they make it so complicated? One answer, I believe, is so they can be like all the other churches (within this particular pseudo-denomination, anyway). Then, too, they want people to know how much they (the people who go this this or that church within this denomination) know about the scriptures. They are so concerned with this that they pass right over, many times, what the scriptures actually say. Many of them have become so expert in the scriptures that they promulgate error. Sort of like the Pharisees. They mean well, but they have no idea what they're talking about.