Bible Question:
I heard someone talk about entering through the gates by seven different ways. I know one of the ways is through the eyes. Could you please help me out?
Bible Answer:
The Gate of Heaven
The Bible speaks of the gate of heaven in only verse in the Bible. The verse is Genesis 28:17. Verses 10-16 reveal that when Jacob awoke from a dream he said, “This is the gate of heaven.” He thought that he had seen the gate of heaven in his dream, but that does not mean he did. The Bible never tells us that a person must go through a gate(s) in order to enter heaven. Nor does the Bible say that the apostle Peter is standing at some pearly gates to either allow or deny someone into heaven.
However, we are told in Revelation 21:9-14 that there will be twelve gates in the new heaven and the new earth. People who are already in the eternal heaven will be able to enjoy these twelve extremely beautiful gates, but no one must pass through any of them in order to enter heaven. Such a view is simply fiction.
How To Go To Heaven
So, how does one go to heaven? The answer is that there are not seven ways to get into heaven. There is only one way to get into heaven or to get eternal life. For example, in John 3:16 Jesus tells us that the only way someone can have eternal life is to believe in Him. Those who believe will escape hell and be given eternal life. But the person who does not believe in Jesus Christ will be sent to eternal punishment.
What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? First, Jesus tells us that we must believe He is God (John 8:24). If we do not believe He is God, then we will die in our sins. Second, Acts 4:12 states that Jesus is the only way to get into heaven.
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 (NASB)
In John 14:6, Jesus warned us that He is the only the way (John 14:6).
No other so-called god, philosophy, or person can give you eternal life in heaven. Third, believing in Jesus Christ means that a person believes Jesus died on a cross and was resurrected in order to be forgiven of our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
When a person truly believes that God loves us and Jesus died and was resurrected in order to forgive our sins, then the person will want their sins to be forgiven (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 20:21; 2 Peter 3:9). They will be repentant and even grieve their sins (Luke 13:5; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 7:10).
I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:5 (NASB)
Repentance is one sign of true faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 states that genuine repentance will accompany true faith.
. . . solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 (NASB)
Another sign of true faith in Jesus Christ is a desire to obey God (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3).
. . . that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
The Narrow Gate
In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus gave us the parable about the wide and narrow gate. In the parable He warned us to take the narrow gate. He said,
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB)
These two gates are not literal gates. They are symbolic. They open to the way or to the road that leads a person to hell or heaven. The way or the road are also symbolic. Jesus used the gates and road in this parable to teach us an important divine truth. The truth is that the wide gate is the one that most people take. That is why it is wide. Those who walk through the wide gate will be going to hell. The narrow gate is the one that very few people open.
Notice that the narrow gate is not described as a gate of heaven. It is not in heaven. It is a gate that we must enter here in this life. Those who fail to enter the narrow gate in this life will go to eternal punishment or hell. How do we enter the narrow gate? The answer is by believing in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. The proof that we genuinely believe in Jesus is that we have sorrow over sins, are repentant, and want to submit to our God. That must occur in this life (John 1:12; 1 John 3:23). For Hebrews 9:27 tells us that “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” It is not a decision that we can make after die.
We cannot enter through the narrow gate by trying to be a good person. Those who try to enter heaven by being a good person go to hell. They will be one of those who walk through the wide gate. For Jesus told the rich, young ruler that there is one who is good. Only God is good (Mark 10:18 ).
Conclusion
So, there is no real, pearly gate in heaven that a person must enter. The only gate is a figurative one. It is called believing in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. You are encouraged to believe in Jesus Christ. Enter through the narrow gate and go to heaven.
For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” Romans 10:11 (NASB)
“WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Romans 10:13 (NASB)
Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION.” 2 Corinthians 6:2b (NASB)
Suggested Links:
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