It is for sure difficult to go to heaven.
That is a fact.
Jesus even said this:
「 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 」
(Luke 13:24)
This verse has led
many people to realize
the truth that heaven is extremely difficult to enter.
As it is shown in the verse,
Jesus wanted people to realize
how difficult it was to enter heaven during His time on earth.
Countless people try harder
to repent everyday out of the pressure of those words.
But they would give up eventually.
In fact,
it’s not just difficult to go to heaven,
"it's impossible."
Jesus wanted you
to come to this realization;
「 Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 」
(Matthew 5:20)
「 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. 」
(Matthew 18:35)
「 Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Anyone who is angry with his brotherwill be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 」
(Matthew 5:22,28)
You may put
all your efforts
to keep His words,
but you will end up this thought at last.
I can't forgive
the person with my heart.
I can’t keep off sexual desires from my mind.
I can’t just stop being angry
at my brother and swearing at him, because he is so mean...
Coming to this realization,
you get frustrated day by day.
Still, Jesus continues to whip you with the following words.
「 Try to enter through the narrow door, I tell you
There will be many who will not be able to get in. 」
(Luke 13:24)
You get frustrated
even more.
What you really think is,
God loves us so much
and He promises eternal life and happiness in heaven.
But why does He make it
so difficult to go to heaven?
If what Jesus says is true,
how many people can make it to heaven?
You must be collapsed
in despair at those words.
Then, Jesus hugs and says
to you in despair.
「 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once
for all by his own blood, having obtained
"eternal redemption." 」
(Hebrew 9:12)
"See?"
No matter how hard you try,
you will never be able to
make it to heaven, never!
That’s why God Himself paid off
your debt instead of you,
blotting out all your sins.
If you still believe that
you can make it to heaven
with the repentance of your sins
and holy deeds,
read the following verse carefully.
Salvation is given to us for free.
It is "the gift of God’s grace"
given to us "without any condition.”
There is no way to go
to heaven not relying on God's "grace, compassion,
and mercy."
「 Not by works,
so that no one can boast. 」
Why you can’t make it to heaven
by "the repentance of your sins and holy deeds"?
It’s because you will obviously
show off your righteousness
in heaven.
Jesus is clearly saying
the following words to those
who are trying to enter heaven
with their own efforts and works.
「 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but "only he who does
the will of my Father"
who is in heaven. 」
(Matthew 7:21)
What is my
Father’s will?
