Many Christians Are Not Going to Heaven

By Marcus Samuel

This book is for those who identify themselves, when asked, as a 'Christian believer.' They may say they are Christians because they went to church with their parents as they grew up, and continue to go every once in a while or on Christmas or Easter. They may have gone to a Christian school, been baptized, had first communion or said a prayer when they were young. It is for anybody who, when asked "what religion are you?" would answer that they are "Christian."

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Apr 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489734280

Marcus Samuel

Remembering my youth, I was told that I just had to accept Jesus into my heart with a quick prayer. From that one little quick prayer, I had eternal salvation “fire insurance.” I was taught that if I simply, repeated a very quick prayer or raised my hand in church or went and prayed with an elder after church, the gates of heaven would be waiting for me when I died.

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Copyright © 2021 Marcus Samuel.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-3427-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3426-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3428-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021904159

LifeRich Publishing rev. date:  03/26/2021

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1   Judgement of Gary

Chapter 2   Fear of God, Sin

Chapter 3   Eternal Decision

Chapter 4   Repentance

Chapter 5   Salvation

Chapter 6   Righteous Living and Bearing Fruit

Chapter 7   Our Judgement

Chapter 8   The Good News

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Revelation 14:12 says, Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. The purpose of this book is to revitalize the relationship Christians today have with their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a call to those who consider themselves to be followers of Christ to Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you are called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12).

This book is not for those who disagree with Christianity, Christian theology, or Christian ideology. This book is not for people who do not believe that Jesus is God or that the Bible is the ultimate authority as God’s word. This book is for those who identify themselves, when asked, as Christian believers; they may say they are Christians because they went to church with their parents as they grew up, and they continue to go every once in a while or on Christmas or Easter. They may have gone to a Christian school, been baptized, had first communion, or said a prayer when they were young. It is for anybody who, when asked what religion they are, would answer that they are Christian.

What is it that makes one a Christian? Is there a difference between a Christian believer and a Christian follower? Does God consider all those who call themselves Christian to be saved? In other words, are all Christians going to heaven? Please read this book and ask yourself if you are considered to be Christian by God. Are you considered to be eternally saved? Or have you been eternally deceived?

When I was a prodigal in my late twenties, the Lord put into my path the verses in Matthew 7:21–23: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Reading those verses really changed my life. They made me think. If Jesus is saying that, it must mean there are people who consider themselves to be Christian and saved, but God does not. These people think they are going to heaven, but they are not. And Jesus did not say a few or some are in that state, but many. Many who profess that Jesus is Lord will not be entering the kingdom of heaven. Many people who know that Jesus is the only one and the supreme ruler of all the universes and might have even worshipped Him on earth at one point or another will not enter heaven.

As someone who considered himself to be a saved Christian, those verses scared every cell in my body. I remember thinking that those have to be the most terrifying words in all of eternity. Being in that situation is the absolute worst thing that can happen to anyone. I had given my life to Christ many times, growing up, but how could I be sure I was really saved? In that passage, Jesus is clearly talking to many who think they are saved and going into the kingdom of heaven. He is not talking to atheists or those from other religions. He is talking about people who declared that Jesus was God. He is talking to people who lived their lives saying they were Christians, and they believed they were.

The moment that I read those verses in my life, I truly feared the Lord. I was terrified that situation could happen to me. I realized that it is not me who needed to know that I was a saved Christian but Jesus Himself needed to know. I absolutely did not want to hear the words depart from Me when I met Him. I began to reason as to what made me a Christian. Mentally, I began reviewing my life and the Christian teachers I had growing up and the decisions I made in my life; I questioned everything. Remembering my youth, I was told that I just had to accept Jesus into my heart with a quick prayer. From that quick little prayer, I had eternal salvation, fire insurance. I was taught that if I simply repeated a very quick prayer or raised my hand in church or prayed with an elder after church, the gates of heaven would be waiting for me when I died. That was a no-brainer. A simple enough decision at the time to say the prayer and go to heaven. Who wouldn’t take that offer? I had said that prayer growing up multiple times, and until reading those verses in Matthew 7, I thought I was genuinely saved.

With so many different views on eternity, this decision was far too important to rely on what anybody had taught me. I needed to figure this out on my own. If I died today, would Jesus say to me, I never knew you? If the rapture was today, would I be included? I decided, at that moment, I really needed to learn more. I went to a Christian school as a kid, but I couldn’t really remember much on the topic. I went to church my whole life, but I was taught