Dr. Robert Jeffress is senior pastor of the 15,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas and a FOX News contributor. His daily radio program, Pathway to Victory, is heard on more than 930 stations nationwide, and his weekly television program is seen on thousands of cable systems and stations in the US and in nearly 200 countries around the world. Known for his bold, biblical stands on cultural issues, Jeffress has been interviewed on more than 3,000 radio and TV programs. He is the author of more than 20 books and his new book, Invincible, is available now.
What is the spiritual passport we need to get into heaven? It’s not a heart stamped “Catholic.” If your heart is stamped “Catholic,” you are not going to make it into heaven. It’s not a heart stamped “Baptist.” If your heart is stamped “Baptist,” you are not getting into heaven. Nor are you going to be welcomed into heaven if your heart is stamped “Church of Christ,” or any other denomination. Only a heart stamped “Forgiven” will be welcomed into heaven. That’s all that matters: being forgiven of our sins. No other stamp makes a difference in the presence of God. The Bible has a word for being forgiven. It’s the New Testament word justified, which means “to be declared righteous.” Justified is a legal term that refers to what God does for us when we trust in Christ as Savior. When we put our faith in Christ alone for our salvation, God justifies us—He declares us “not guilty” based on what Christ did for us on the cross.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
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says, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The only way we are allowed into heaven is by being forgiven of our sins.
There are not many ways to heaven; there is only one way to heaven, and that is through faith in Christ. I realize that is an unpopular statement today. Many people think there are other routes to heaven. Billionaire Warren Buffett donated 85 percent of his net worth to charity, saying, “There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way.” I commend Buffett for his generosity, but he will be surprised when he discovers that he cannot donate his way to heaven. There is only one way to heaven, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ.
What “stamp” is on your spiritual passport? Have you been forgiven of your sins through your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior?
God, thank You for making it clear in Your Word that the onlyway to be welcomed into heaven is through faith in Your Son,Jesus Christ. Give me the courage to speak Your truth andopportunities to share the gospel today.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
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, Paul said, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” The Bible says there are three kinds of heavenly rewards that these crowns represent. As we have seen, first, these rewards include special privileges. Jesus is not going to treat everybody the same in heaven.
Second, these rewards entail special positions in heaven. Those who are faithful in this life will be put in charge and have moral responsibilities in heaven. In the parable of the talents, Jesus commended those who were faithful: “Well done, good and faithful [servant]. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master” (
Matthew 25:21
"The master was full of praise. `Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!*'
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).
Third, these rewards entail special praise in heaven. Can you look back in your life and recall when somebody said something especially encouraging to you? Maybe a parent said, “I am so proud of you.” Maybe an employer said, “You are doing such a great job; we could not make it in this company without you.” You hold on to those things, don’t you? You replay them over and over in your mind. If we can get that excited about what a parent or an employer says to us, think about what it will be like to stand at the judgment seat of Christ and see Jesus smile and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is a reward worth working for.
Think of a time when an authority figure said something encouraging to you. How did that make you feel? How do you think that will compare to the day when Jesus says to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
Lord Jesus, I want to serve You faithfully in this life. Help me get rid of any impure motives or earthly distractions that lead me away from eternal things. I look forward to the day when I will hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
