THAT'S GREAT. BUT WOULD YOU MIND IF WE ASK WHY?
Because I'm a good person?
Because I go to church (temple, the woods, etc)?
Because I go to church (temple, the woods, etc)?
- We're sure that's true! Except The Bible says no one is righteous on their own (Romans 3:10, 23).
- Salvation is not earned by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- If being good was enough, Jesus would not have needed to die for our sins.
Because I go to church (temple, the woods, etc)?
Because I go to church (temple, the woods, etc)?
Because I go to church (temple, the woods, etc)?
- That's great. The problem is religious activities don’t save—only faith in Jesus does (John 14:6).
- Even the Pharisees were deeply religious, but Jesus warned them about relying on their traditions rather than knowing God personally (Matthew 7:21-23).
Because a loving God wouldn't allow a hell?
Because I go to church (temple, the woods, etc)?
Because I was baptized (confirmed, prayed over, etc)?
- That's half true. God is love (1 John 4:8), but He is also just (Romans 2:5-6). God has given you free will to choose or reject him. Hell is eternal separation from his presence. It is your choice to choose to be with God, or apart from him.
- If sin had no consequences, there would be no need for Jesus to die (Romans 6:23).
- God's love provided the way to salvation through Christ, but rejecting Jesus results in judgment (John 3:18).
Because I was baptized (confirmed, prayed over, etc)?
Because I was baptized (confirmed, prayed over, etc)?
Because I was baptized (confirmed, prayed over, etc)?
- That's nice, but while baptism and other religious ceremonies are signs of possible faith, they do not replace a true personal faith in Christ (Mark 16:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone, not by performing rituals (Romans 10:9-10).
Because I try to follow the Ten Commandments?
Because I was baptized (confirmed, prayed over, etc)?
Because I believe in God, and I believe in heaven?
- Keep doing that, but remember the Bible says, the Law was given to show our sinfulness, not as a path to salvation (Romans 3:20).
- No one can keep the Ten Commandments perfectly—breaking even one makes us guilty (James 2:10).
Because I believe in God, and I believe in heaven?
Because I was baptized (confirmed, prayed over, etc)?
Because I believe in God, and I believe in heaven?
- That's a great start, except so does Satan. Even demons believe in God, but they are not saved (James 2:19).
- True saving faith means trusting in Jesus, not just acknowledging God's existence (John 3:16, Acts 4:12).
Because I had a significant spiritual experience?
Because I had a significant spiritual experience?
Because I had a significant spiritual experience?
- That can mean a lot of things. Just know that emotions or supernatural experiences don’t equal salvation (Matthew 7:22-23).
- The test of salvation is faith in Jesus and a transformed life, not a past experience (2 Corinthians 5:17).