Sarcasm is demeaning. This is an honest theological discussion.
Our Lord opened the gates of heaven on the cross. He did not guarantee anyone’s entrance. Entrance must be earned. God the Father is Just and this is justice.
Our Lord opened the gates of heaven on the cross. He did not guarantee anyone’s entrance. Entrance must be earned. God the Father is Just and this is justice.So, then, would it be fair to say, that your salvation is based upon Baptism, the sacraments, and good works? You will be judged on the amount of good works you perform and how good you were at refraining from sin?
Our Lord opened the gates of heaven on the cross. He did not guarantee anyone’s entrance. Entrance must be earned. God the Father is Just and this is justice.
Welcome to the forum. But, be warned. You now have the problem of 1 Peter 5:8, but you are not alone. All of we Christians share in this struggle.
So are you satisfied that your works have earned your entrance into heaven?
If entrance into heaven must be earned and God is a just God, then you must accept the terms God has revealed to accomplish that. In Leviticus 17:11, God said, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. This means his terms say only blood - meaning the offering of a life - atones for sin. He does not accept good deeds or works of righteousness as payment for our sins, but blood. The Jewish high priest on the Day of Atonement would enter into the Holy of Holies and make an offering of blood upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. This was done after fasting, confession and prayers by the people. The blood offering was to make "atonement" for the sins of the people. It was a covering for sins but its main purpose was to point to the Messiah who was to come.
In the New Testament, Paul says to the Christians in Rome, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). The payment God required for sin had and has not ever changed, but the Messiah now HAS come and, by Jesus' sacrifice of his life in our place, we have had our sins paid for. He is our propitiation - meaning a satisfactory payment - for all the sins of the world. God the Son came to earth, incarnated in the flesh, lived a perfect sinless life (because that was the only way an offering could be done for all) and is now our sacrifice in our place for our sins. Our sin debt has been paid in full. Jesus said, "It is finished." and eternal life is offered to us as a gift of God's grace. We receive this grace by faith, Ephesians 3:8,9 "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.
So, yes, God is just and all holy and cannot look upon sin, but he is also merciful, full of grace and lovingkindness he does not wish that any should perish but all come to the knowledge of the truth. And this is the truth, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Jesus affirmed this when he said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Salvation is a gift of grace that God gives to us when we trust in him by faith. We cannot earn it, merit it or do anything to deserve it.