Do Christians go to Heaven?

[B-A-C]

Is there any verse in the Bible that specifically says Christians go to heaven?

There are some verses that seem to say only Jesus has gone to heaven.

Prov 30:4; Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!
John 3:13; "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
Acts 2:34; "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

Now there may be a couple of exceptions, two people who never died.

2Kin 2:11; As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
Heb 11:5; By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

The one verse that seems to say we go to heaven ( at least for a little while ) to be with Jesus is...
2Cor 5:6; Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—
2Cor 5:7; for we walk by faith, not by sight—
2Cor 5:8; we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

The question is, or we immediately absent from the body, or do we exist only in the grave, such as Lazarus and the rich man.

In the beatitudes, some people inherit the earth, but it seems no one "inherits heaven".

Matt 5:5; "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Another controversial verse.
John 14:2; "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
King James says "many mansions" here. But where is this Father's house? In heaven, or in the New Jerusalem?

Some of this gets into whether you believe in soul sleep, or whether you believe you immediately go to heaven when you die.
Now some people will reign over the earth.
Rev 5:10; "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
Rev 20:4; Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

If you believe in a pre-trib rapture, perhaps you ( at least your spirit ) will go to heaven for 7 years. That's it, only seven years at best.
If you believe in a post-trib rapture, you never seem to go to heaven. Jesus comes back and sets up shop on the earth for a thousand years.
After that, the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven, and all Christians will live there. ...forever.
So it's possible Christians never go to heaven. Or it seems at best, only seven years or so.

John 6:39; "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
John 6:40; "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
John 6:44; "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:54; "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 11:24; Martha *said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."

1Sam 28:15; Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has departed from me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I should do."

Why wasn't Samuel in heaven?
Matt 27:51; And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
Matt 27:52; The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
Matt 27:53; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

John 11:13; Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
1Cor 11:30; For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
1Cor 15:51; Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

 

[B-A-C]

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

It's interesting that Jesus said the thief would go to paradise, and not heaven.

Another exception of someone who visited heaven for a short while would be Paul.

2Cor 12:2; I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
2Cor 12:3; And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—

... but Paul did not know if it was his whole body, or just his spirit.

Rev 21:1; Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
Rev 21:2; And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3; And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

This seems to say we will dwell with God forever in the New Jerusalem, not heaven.

John 11:43; When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."

I have always wondered why Lazarus never told anyone what he saw while he was dead.

 

[B-A-C]

John 12:9; The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
John 12:10; But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;
John 12:11; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

On a somewhat unrelated side-note here. It's amazing to me, how far some "religious" people will go in order to protect or prevent a certain doctrine.

Some Roman Catholics call Mary the "Queen of Heaven". But is she really even in heaven?

Prov 30:4; Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!
John 3:13; "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

 

[Charlie24]

John 12:9; The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
John 12:10; But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;
John 12:11; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

On a somewhat unrelated side-note here. It's amazing to me, how far some "religious" people will go in order to protect or prevent a certain doctrine.

Some Roman Catholics call Mary the "Queen of Heaven". But is she really even in heaven?

Prov 30:4; Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!
John 3:13; "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

John 3:13 may not mean what you think it means.

Christ is telling Nicodemus if he doesn't understand the earthy things Christ is telling him, how can he understand the heavenly things He's speaking of.

Then Christ tells him, no man has been to heaven to see and understand these things and returned to earth to tell it, except Me.

The verse actually means that no man has ascended into heaven and came back to earth to tell what he has seen and learned.

 

[B-A-C]

s and returned to earth to tell it,

John 3:13
(AMPC) And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven, but there is One Who has come down from heaven--the Son of Man [Himself], Who is (dwells, has His home) in heaven.
(AMPC+) And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven, but there is One Who has come down from heaven--the Son of Man [Himself], N1Who is (dwells, has His home) in heaven.
(ASV) And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
(BSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
(CSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven — the Son of Man.
(ESV) No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
(ESV+) R1No one has R2ascended into heaven except R3he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.N1
(Greek NT BYZ+) καιG2532 CONJ ουδειςG3762 A-NSM-N αναβεβηκενG305 V-RAI-3S ειςG1519 PREP τονG3588 T-ASM ουρανονG3772 N-ASM ειG1487 COND μηG3361 PRT-N οG3588 T-NSM εκG1537 PREP τουG3588 T-GSM ουρανουG3772 N-GSM καταβαςG2597 V-2AAP-NSM οG3588 T-NSM υιοςG5207 N-NSM τουG3588 T-GSM ανθρωπουG444 N-GSM οG3588 T-NSM ωνG1510 V-PAP-NSM ενG1722 PREP τωG3588 T-DSM ουρανωG3772 N-DSM
(HCSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
(ISV) "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
(KJV) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(KJV+) AndG2532 no manG3762 hath ascended upG305 toG1519 heaven,G3772 butG1508 he that came downG2597 fromG1537 heaven,G3772 even theG3588 SonG5207 of manG444 which isG5607 inG1722 heaven.G3772
(MKJV) And no one has ascended up to Heaven except He who came down from Heaven, the Son of Man who is in Heaven.
(NAS77) "And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man.
(NAS95) "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
(NAS95+) "R1NoG3762 oneG3762 has ascendedG305 into heavenG3772, but R2He who descendedG2597 from heavenG3772: R3the SonG5207 of ManG444.
(NIrV) "No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven. He is the Son of Man.
(NIV) No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
(NKJV) No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
(NLT) No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.
(RV) And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.

The NLT is the only translation that says that, I do not see it in the original Greek anywhere.

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings,

Perhaps the question(s)...

What is Heaven?

Where is Heaven?

might give further insight?


Bless you ....><>

 

[Charlie24]

John 3:13
(AMPC) And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven, but there is One Who has come down from heaven--the Son of Man [Himself], Who is (dwells, has His home) in heaven.
(AMPC+) And yet no one has ever gone up to heaven, but there is One Who has come down from heaven--the Son of Man [Himself], N1Who is (dwells, has His home) in heaven.
(ASV) And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
(BSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
(CSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven — the Son of Man.
(ESV) No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
(ESV+) R1No one has R2ascended into heaven except R3he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.N1
(Greek NT BYZ+) καιG2532 CONJ ουδειςG3762 A-NSM-N αναβεβηκενG305 V-RAI-3S ειςG1519 PREP τονG3588 T-ASM ουρανονG3772 N-ASM ειG1487 COND μηG3361 PRT-N οG3588 T-NSM εκG1537 PREP τουG3588 T-GSM ουρανουG3772 N-GSM καταβαςG2597 V-2AAP-NSM οG3588 T-NSM υιοςG5207 N-NSM τουG3588 T-GSM ανθρωπουG444 N-GSM οG3588 T-NSM ωνG1510 V-PAP-NSM ενG1722 PREP τωG3588 T-DSM ουρανωG3772 N-DSM
(HCSB) No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
(ISV) "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
(KJV) And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
(KJV+) AndG2532 no manG3762 hath ascended upG305 toG1519 heaven,G3772 butG1508 he that came downG2597 fromG1537 heaven,G3772 even theG3588 SonG5207 of manG444 which isG5607 inG1722 heaven.G3772
(MKJV) And no one has ascended up to Heaven except He who came down from Heaven, the Son of Man who is in Heaven.
(NAS77) "And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man.
(NAS95) "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
(NAS95+) "R1NoG3762 oneG3762 has ascendedG305 into heavenG3772, but R2He who descendedG2597 from heavenG3772: R3the SonG5207 of ManG444.
(NIrV) "No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven. He is the Son of Man.
(NIV) No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
(NKJV) No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
(NLT) No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.
(RV) And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.

The NLT is the only translation that says that, I do not see it in the original Greek anywhere.

I understand your point. For an example, I don't know if you've watched the series The Chosen. The series has many things that are not found in Scripture. Some won't watch it because of that. But ask yourself, is it possible to make a Biblical movie on just what's written in Scripture without filling in the blanks? That would be a very confusing movie given only the information found in Scripture, and maybe an impossible task.

Likewise, what prompted Christ to say "no one has ascended into heaven except He who came down from heaven?" Some will say don't add to the Scripture, and others will immediately wonder why Christ said this and go through the context to understand why.

I'm the curious one, I'm going to the context to find why Christ said this to Nicodemus.

 

[Charlie24]

I understand your point. For an example, I don't know if you've watched the series The Chosen. The series has many things that are not found in Scripture. Some won't watch it because of that. But ask yourself, is it possible to make a Biblical movie on just what's written in Scripture without filling in the blanks? That would be a very confusing movie given only the information found in Scripture, and maybe an impossible task.

Likewise, what prompted Christ to say "no one has ascended into heaven except He who came down from heaven?" Some will say don't add to the Scripture, and others will immediately wonder why Christ said this and go through the context to understand why.

I'm the curious one, I'm going to the context to find why Christ said this to Nicodemus.

The above illustration brings up a question. Of late its seems if what's said is not found in direct affirming Scripture, then you're charged with adding to Scripture.

Is it improper on Talk Jesus for me to give my conclusions to "filling in the blanks" on any given Scripture?

If so, someone please let me know!

 

[B-A-C]

, I'm going to the context to find why Christ said this to Nicodemus.

[NASB]
John 3:9; Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"
John 3:10; Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
John 3:11; "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.
John 3:12; "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
John 3:13; "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
John 3:14; "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
John 3:15; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

My take on this. Jesus has been to heaven, He has seen things ( most/all ) humans have never seen.
If you take some verses in the Bible literally, Jesus created heaven and hell. He knows more about these things than any other man.

John 1:3; All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Col 1:16; For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Col 1:17; He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

John 3:4; Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
John 3:5; Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus is talking about being born again. No one had ever heard this phrase before. Nicodemus didn't know what it meant. This is a major doctrine in Christianity, and yet
the phrase is seen only four times in the Bible. Twice by Jesus, and twice by Peter. ( Even now I wonder if some Christians know what this means ).

1Pet 1:3; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pet 1:23; for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

My take is that Jesus is saying, I've been to heaven, I know things that no one else knows. If I tell you about earthly things and you don't believe me, how will you believe me
if I tell you about heavenly things which you have never seen?

John 3:11; Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

In the King James and most other Bibles, Jesus says "we" here three times. Who is "we" ( plural ).

I believe that something that has gotten lost to some Christians ( I'm not saying this about you ) is the authority of Jesus. Jesus knows things no other human knows.
I often see people say, well the old testament says this or that about heaven and hell. The other apostles such as Paul said this or that about heaven or hell.
I personally always put twice as much weight on the things Jesus said, over what the apostles say. ( Not that I disagree with anything they say ).

I don't have a problem with any of that, but Jesus mentions heaven and hell more than everyone else put together. He is the authority. If we don't believe this, how
can we believe anything else He says?

In my Bible the word "hell" is mentioned 13 times in the New Testament, eleven of those 13 times is Jesus speaking.
The word "hades" is used 10 times in the New Testament in my Bible. 5 of those times, Jesus is speaking. No one else comes close. Why? I believe no one else knew as much about it as He does.

 

[B-A-C]

Is it improper on Talk Jesus for me to give my conclusions to "filling in the blanks" on any given Scripture?

I think we are all guilty of this, I know I am. I do try to keep from doing this. The problem with "filling in the blanks" is, how much do we fill in?

If I say "I believe everyone is going to heaven", and we add that ( fill in the blanks ) with this, is there a danger?
If I say "I believe no one is going to hell", and we fill in the blanks with this, is there a danger?

People do this all the time. Some preachers are preaching that adulterers and homosexuals are going to heaven.
Some preachers say we don't Jesus, or we don't need to be born again.

How much "filling in the blanks" are we allowed to get away with?

 

[Charlie24]

[NASB]
John 3:9; Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"
John 3:10; Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
John 3:11; "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.
John 3:12; "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
John 3:13; "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
John 3:14; "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
John 3:15; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

My take on this. Jesus has been to heaven, He has seen things ( most/all ) humans have never seen.
If you take some verses in the Bible literally, Jesus created heaven and hell. He knows more about these things than any other man.

John 1:3; All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Col 1:16; For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Col 1:17; He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

John 3:4; Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
John 3:5; Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6; "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus is talking about being born again. No one had ever heard this phrase before. Nicodemus didn't know what it meant. This is a major doctrine in Christianity, and yet
the phrase is seen only four times in the Bible. Twice by Jesus, and twice by Peter.

1Pet 1:3; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pet 1:23; for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

My take is that Jesus is saying, I've been to heaven, I know things that no one else knows. If I tell you about earthly things and you don't believe me, how will you believe me
if I tell you about heavenly things which you have never seen?

John 3:11; Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

In the King James and most other Bibles, Jesus says "we" here three times. Who is "we" ( plural ).

I believe that something that has gotten lost to some Christians ( I'm not saying this about you ) is the authority of Jesus. Jesus knows things no other human knows.
I often see people say, well the old testament says this or that about heaven and hell. The other apostles such as Paul said this or that about heaven or hell.

I don't have a problem with any of that, but Jesus mentions heaven and hell more than everyone else put together. He is the authority. If we don't believe this, how
can we believe anything else He says?

In my Bible the word "hell" is mentioned 13 times in the New Testament, eleven of those 13 times is Jesus speaking.
The word "hades" is used 10 times in the New Testament in my Bible. 5 of those times, Jesus is speaking. No one else comes close. Why? I believe no one else knew as much about it as He does.

I totally agree! What I see, as you pointed out, Christ is discussing salvation, being born-again, and Nicodemus has no idea what Christ is saying. Also as you pointed out, it was a new thing to all.

When I studied this years ago I came to the conclusion (of course debatable) that Christ mentioned the ascending and descending to and from heaven to show Nicodemus that He is the only one who knows the truth, and this salvation He's speaking of is only found in Him alone.

I look at it as a self offered fact check from Christ. Nicodemus came to Christ by night already suspecting that He was the Christ. I believe Nicodemus left that meeting now knowing He is the Christ and the only one with the truth. But he kept it a secret from his fellow Sanhedrin members for a period of time.

 

[B-A-C]

Perhaps the question(s)...

What is Heaven?

Where is Heaven?

might give further insight?

Is there a difference between heaven and "the kingdom" of heaven?

My answer would be, heaven is not earth. Is it on earth? I would answer this way.
I used to be in the US military, I was in Okinawa Japan for a while. We lived on the military base there.

So I would say it was a part of the United States, more than it was a part of Japan, but I would still say it's not the United States.
The "kingdom" of heaven exists on Earth, but it's not heaven, if that makes sense.

Our citizenship is in heaven, but we aren't in the actual heaven. When I was in Japan, my citizenship was in the US, but I wasn't in the actual US at that time.

 

[Charlie24]

I think we are all guilty of this, I know I am. I do try to keep from doing this. The problem with "filling in the blanks" is, how much do we fill in?

If I say "I believe everyone is going to heaven", and we add that ( fill in the blanks ) with this, is there a danger?
If I say "I believe no one is going to hell", and we fill in the blanks with this, is there a danger?

People do this all the time. Some preachers are preaching that adulterers and homosexuals are going to heaven.
Some preachers say we don't Jesus, or we don't need to be born again.

How much "filling in the blanks" are we allowed to get away with?

I'm on these forums to give and receive more understanding of Scripture. How can that be done if we don't "fill in the blanks?"

Biblical Doctrine is determined by Scripture interpreting Scripture beyond reasonable doubt, in other words, filling in the blanks.

Some Doctrines are easy to determine with direct affirming Scripture, but most are not.

That's why there is estimated to be over 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide.

 

[B-A-C]

Some Doctrines are easy to determine with direct affirming Scripture, but most are not.

That's why there is estimated to be over 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide.

I think there is some truth to this. But is this because they stick 100% to scripture? Or it is because they do not?
It's been my experience many denominations do not stick to the Bible. I don't know what percentage, but I can definitely say it's more than one or two.

If we take two seemingly simple passages here. ( Believe me, there are dozens of others I could use )

1Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19; Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20; idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

To me, this could not be more simple and straight-forward. If you are a drunkard, adulterer, fornicator, homosexual, etc... you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Period. Game over. End of story.
..and yet how many churches... indeed entire denominations, are teaching these things are OK with God these days?

Is this because they stick to scripture? Or is it because they "filled in the blanks"?

1Cor 14:33; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

 

[Charlie24]

I think there is some truth to this. But is this because they stick 100% to scripture? Or it is because they do not?
It's been my experience many denominations do not stick to the Bible. I don't know what percentage, but I can definitely say it's more than one or two.

If we take two seemingly simple passages here. ( Believe me, there are dozens of others I could use )

1Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19; Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20; idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

To me, this could not be more simple and straight-forward. If you are a drunkard, adulterer, fornicator, homosexual, etc... you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Period. Game over. End of story.
..and yet how many churches... indeed entire denominations, are teaching these things are OK with God these days?

Is this because they stick to scripture? Or is it because they "filled in the blanks"?

1Cor 14:33; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Where I see things differently in your post, years ago I knew a man very well who was an alcoholic. He lost his business, wife and family, basically everything.

To my shame, I knew him very well and never once asked him to go to Church. One of my many regrets I pray the Lord will forgive.

Another friend in my Church asked him to come, and he did and was saved in that Church meeting that Sunday morning.

About 2 years later he died with cirrhosis of the liver from alcohol. He battled with alcohol those 2 years being faithful in trusting Christ, but still drinking and hating it.

Did God reject that alcoholic's faith in Christ? No, I think not. I expect to see him again one day in glory.

My interpretation of the passage you gave, are those who commit those sins with no regard, no hatred toward that addiction, no trust in our Savior.

 

[B-A-C]

Did God reject that alcoholic's faith in Christ? No, I think not. I expect to see him again one day in glory.

My interpretation of the passage you gave, are those who commit those sins with no regard, no hatred toward that addiction, no trust in our Savior.

I tend to agree. Struggling is one thing, willfull sin is another.

Still...

Rev 22:18; I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
Rev 22:19; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

 

[Charlie24]

I tend to agree. Struggling is one thing, willfull sin is another.

Still...

Rev 22:18; I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;
Rev 22:19; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Here again, BAC, we're speaking of the intentional changing of God's word for our particular beliefs.

Not allowing God's Word to speak to our hearts and lead us to the truth.

 

[Charlie24]

Here again, BAC, we're speaking of the intentional changing of God's word for our particular beliefs.

Not allowing God's Word to speak to our hearts and lead us to the truth.

There are conditions to finding the truth of God's Word. Some don't take this into account!

God the Holy Spirit helps those to understand who "study to show themselves approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

And, "Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you."

 

[Rhema]

In the King James and most other Bibles, Jesus says "we" here three times. Who is "we" ( plural ).

Jesus and John the Baptizer, the cousins of the Royal House of David.

I believe that something that has gotten lost to some Christians ( I'm not saying this about you ) is the authority of Jesus.

Indeed.

A significant amount of Christians that I know, either stumble at the following verse, or disbelieve, teaching Satan to be god of this world.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power/authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth.​

(Matthew 28:18 KJV)​

RE:John 3:13 TR - και ουδεις αναβεβηκεν εις τον ουρανον ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο ων εν τω ουρανω

The NLT is the only translation that says that, I do not see it in the original Greek anywhere.

As I read the verse, it's saying that no one has gone up into heaven unless he has come down (ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας - literally, "if not out of the heaven come-down"). There are beings who have gone up into heaven, because they had (first) come down from heaven.

I would hasten to point out that the word "antrhopos" or MAN is not in that verse. Instead, the subject of the sentence is ουδεις - "None" "no one" - it doesn't say no man.

Furthermore, the Textus Receptus seems to have a critical variation when ending with... "(even) the Son of man which is in heaven." The phrase "which IS in heaven" is not found in the most reliable manuscripts. So was it added? Or removed? As written in the TR, this is a direct statement that the Son of man IS in heaven at the time of Jesus saying this, which would imply that Jesus is not the Son of Man. Jesus is on Earth, the Son of Man is in heaven. So it would make more sense that someone removed this phrase rather than adding it.

The best manuscript compilation we have just ends with "(even) the Son of Man."

So it's possible Christians never go to heaven.

Obviously one's time frame is important to consider. So what time? As of right now?

The dead know nothing.

The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no more reward, and even the memory of them is lost.​

(Ecclesiastes 9:5 NRSV)​

Unless, of course, one is to presume that the above is merely the opinion of the author.

I have always wondered why Lazarus never told anyone what he saw while he was dead.

Consider the verse above.

The question is, or we immediately absent from the body, or do we exist only in the grave, such as Lazarus and the rich man.

A parable. (Consider the verse above.)

On a somewhat unrelated side-note here. It's amazing to me, how far some "religious" people will go in order to protect or prevent a certain doctrine.

You and me both, brother.

Rhema

 

[Rhema]

Jesus is talking about being born again. No one had ever heard this phrase before. Nicodemus didn't know what it meant. This is a major doctrine in Christianity, and yet
the phrase is seen only four times in the Bible. Twice by Jesus, and twice by Peter. ( Even now I wonder if some Christians know what this means ).

I had wanted to add here, though, that Peter used the word ἀναγεννάω (G313), a compound of "again" and "born," whereas Jesus had used the phrase "γεννηθη ανωθεν." A phrase that literally means "born from the beginning."

The concept of Spiritual Renewal through Repentance comes to mind, in that it would seem Jesus expected Nicodemus to have known this, and Spiritual Renewal through Repentance is a core teaching in the Tanakh.

Rhema