How can I know he's in Heaven?

[sports441995]

My Grandpa passed away recently. He was a Christian, and I believe he had faith in Jesus as his savior.

However, there are many parts of the Bible the appear, from my perspective, to contradict what is neccesary for salvation. I'm not going to cite the exact verses, (I probably should, but I don't know how) but I'm sure you all will know what I mean.

-"For those who have faith in me shall not parish, but have Eternal Life"

He certainly believed in Jesus. This passage gurantees him eternal life (in Heaven).

-(Jesus, in a story, speaking to people about the end time "separation" of the "sheep and goats")- "I was hungry and you did not feed me; thirsty but you did not give me a drink..." etc.

My Grandpa, although very caring of others, did not typically go out of his way like that. He prayed for such people, but did not literally cloth them, feed them, or give them drinks.

-"There is one more thing you must do. Give everything you have to the poor, and you will be rewarded in heaven"
-"How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"

My grandpa was not incredibly rich, but he had some spare cash. Is Jesus saying here that to be saved, you truly must give EVERYHTING you have to the poor?
______________________________

Do you see my concern here? I know he trusted in Jesus, but is there any way I can be SURE he's saved? I miss him and want to see him in Heaven.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

"There is one more thing you must do. Give everything you have to the poor, and you will be rewarded in heaven"
-"How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"

The Scriptures you cite are in Mt 19:21,23. Jesus often used hyperbole in His teachings, hyperbole being the intentional use of exaggeration for the purpose of making a point. Although some may be called to literally give all they have, Jesus' message here is a call to freely give of your resources as much as you can. To look at this more closely, read Mt 6:19-24.

As to whether or not your Grandpa is in heaven, if he truly trusted in Jesus he is there.

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)

 

[sports441995]

Thank you for the reply.

However, I'm still confused over the meaning on the passages I listed. What about the separation of the sheep from the goats? That didn't sound like a hyperbole, that sounds like a literal message of what is to happen! Can you (or someone else) explain how these passages do not contradict each other? I trust God, and the Bible, so I hate it when things seem to go against each other in the word of God =o.

There are more examples as well:

-"Anyone lacking the kind of faith these young children have shall surely not enter the Kingdom of God"

-"All who enter the Kingdom must eat my flesh and drink my blood"

(this can probably be dismissed as figurative, but still)...

 

[Veracity]

Each person has a place where they must fully sell out to the Lord, putting Him first in their life, be willing to give all as He requires at any given moment. I may be required to give up one thing that has been held dear to my existence, while you may be required to give up something else. It is not the actual act of giving it away so much as being willing to in your heart. Everything we have belongs to the Lord in the first place.

As far as your Grandpa, it is out of your hands, it was a relationship between the Lord and him. You knowing the absolute outcome has nothing else to do with your walk with the Lord. The best thing you can do right now is ask the Lord to lead you where you need to be, and thank him that He gave you a Grandpa that meant so much to you. Just put your 'all' in the Lords hands and let Him sort it out.

 

[shipwrecksoul]

Hello sports441995,
Hi, I hope in what I share with you on this thread can help you resolve your issue about your Grandpa salvation and questions you might have about the same.
I'll first share a verse from God's word with you,
Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Did it say (its changed now)
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, by might, by power, and not by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts?
The answer is No.
Christianity, involves one BIG thing called being Born-Again, Spiritual birth from above. When someone is Born-Again they know it and its evident, but not by mentally achieving it through any effort or academic of our own.
The second and last verse I'll share with you is,
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Have you been Born-Again, spiritual birth from above, sports441995?
So those examples of scripture you know are a indication of one who has been Born-Again.
If your Grandpa had a conversion being saved by Jesus by calling on him he would be in heaven right now. My dad never had a conversion nor did he profess to having been saved by a promise by God through Jesus Christ by calling on him as Lord.
Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, that in God's word as well. If you have any other questions you can PM me.

 

[RJ]

Jesus said:

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.<SUP>a</SUP>”John 3:3
and
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit<SUP>b</SUP> gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You<SUP>c</SUP> must be born again.’ John 3:5-7

There is only one way to salvation an that is through the rececieving of Jesus Christs's resurrected life, not water baptism, not speaking in tongues and not 1 John 1:9.

 

[sports441995]

Yes, I understand that. My question is: If recieving Jesus is what you need for salvation, what's with the other messages ("I was hungry and you did not feed me", etc.) that appear to tell readers that something more is neccesary.

 

[RJ]

Yes, I understand that. My question is: If recieving Jesus is what you need for salvation, what's with the other messages ("I was hungry and you did not feed me", etc.) that appear to tell readers that something more is neccesary.

No my friend, there is nothing more or it would be by works, something you have to do!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9

God has taken us completely out of the picture because, if there was anything further for us to do, we would just fail. You see, to be saved by our own doing, you would have to do it perfectly 24/7; only jesus could do that!
The grace above is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, nothing added and nothig deleted.

• He died for the forgiveness of our sins.
• He was burried that initiated his Will and our inheritance
• He was resurrected which gives us eternal life and salvation

 

[sports441995]

Thanks, but my question goes unanswered. I believe that everything you said was true, but why does Jesus say that so many things are neccesary for salvation if, as you say, only one thing truly is? Read my 1st and 3rd posts on this thread for specific examples.

 

[RJ]

Thanks, but my question goes unanswered. I believe that everything you said was true, but why does Jesus say that so many things are neccesary for salvation if, as you say, only one thing truly is? Read my 1st and 3rd posts on this thread for specific examples.

-(Jesus, in a story, speaking to people about the end time "separation" of the "sheep and goats")- "I was hungry and you did not feed me; thirsty but you did not give me a drink..." etc.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o>This is from Matthew 25: 31-46..... </o><o>Separating the sheep from the goats: Separating the saved , believers, righteous (sheep)....... from the unsaved , non-believers, unrighteous (goats). This has nothing to do with additional requirements, this is judgement day]</o>

-"There is one more thing you must do. Give everything you have to the poor, and you will be rewarded in heaven"
-"How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"
This from Matthew 19:20-25.... Jesus was illustrating how hard it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom. Not that you can't be rich and saved but in this example, the young man chose to follow his money and not Jesus and therefore was unsaved. This is nothing to do with additional requirements.


-"Anyone lacking the kind of faith these young children have shall surely not enter the Kingdom of God"
I can't an exact verse right now but Jesus is talking that you must believe in him with a faith of a child. if you are saved, "Born-Again, you posses this faith. No additional requirements.


-"All who enter the Kingdom must eat my flesh and drink my blood"

This is from John 6:50-58....Jesus was figuratively speaking here. Like God gave the ancients "mana" or " Bread from heaven" (not living), Jesus is now the living bread and blood(sacrifice) and if we partake(Born-Again) we figuratively recieve this bread and this blood.
No additional requirements.

There is no additional equirements beyond recievieving Jesus Christ's resurrected life into your heart through faith, belief!

 

[sports441995]

Thanks, that helped out a bit

 

[cman77]

our salvation is not based on works. the things jesus mentions are fruits of faith. if we are truly saved these are the things we will do. whether your grandfather was saved or not, we will not know until judgment. but you should not waste your time worrying about. it is not your place to worry about. live your life for christ and his kingdom and one day you will not be grieved by anything

 

[Boanerges]

Thanks, but my question goes unanswered. I believe that everything you said was true, but why does Jesus say that so many things are neccesary for salvation if, as you say, only one thing truly is? Read my 1st and 3rd posts on this thread for specific examples.

This is an important question as we will all face our Maker one day.
Jesus preached to practicing Jews and the lost. He lived as a Jew to fulfill the law. The best the Jews had was the covenant of a servant, as born again Christians we have the covenant of son-ship. Christ has now become our righteousness and it is only in Christ that we can stand.
The whole purpose of the Law was to school man into a realization of what sin was and his lack of ability to please God.
The church was born in the Book of Acts so try reading the rest of the New Testament. Ask the Holy Spirit (our Teacher) to reveal the Word to you and how it applies to the life of a believer.

As believers Jesus gave us His very righteousness and the Father now sees the righteousness of His Son when He looks at us. Any work of man is but a filthy rag.

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: