The Key to Heaven – Is It Water on Your Hair…?
…or what’s up with that whole baptism thing anyway?
Why do some believe that you are saved (get to Heaven when you die), just by getting some water on your hair…??? Is that because it is easiest..?? Then you can keep living in sin and think that there is space reserved for you in Heaven when you die…?? If that’s what you think, you have another think coming…!
Why do others think that it is enough to believe in God – and maybe go to church once in a while, but otherwise just believe in Him?? Believing alone doesn’t save. The devil believes in God too – and in spite of that, judgement has already been passed on him. Believing in God is not enough…!!!
The key to salvation – to Heaven is NOT a matter of three slops of water to the head!
Read the words of the Bible and then ACT ON THE WORD. Because God’s word is not the past, it is the present… and the words of the Bible are very clear……
- Believe in God from the heart
- Be baptized in water (submerge the old life completely under the water) and the Spirit
- Repent from your old sinful life
- Act on the word: love other people unconditionally, give up envy, jealousy, anger, hatred, sexual sin, power hunger, etc. – and then go out and witness enthusiastically about Jesus Christ, heal the sick and cast out any demons you come across. Because you don’t go out by sitting still – it takes ACTIVE action….
If, as a baby, you can do all these things, then you are better than I am. Because “believing with the heart” is not something a baby can do – all children are automatically loved by Jesus (and therefore saved) UNTIL they themselves can make the decision to accept or reject Jesus.
Do you want to read more about what baptism is and means?
…then you might want to read item 2 on this page: [Who is Jesus Christ]
– and know, this isn’t something I came up with. It’s actually the Bible speaking its own clear language:
James 2:19-26
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Matthew 16:24-27
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Mark 16:15-18 – Jesus’ last words to the disciples
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Peter 4:8-9
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
James 4:1-10
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Andreas Slot-Henriksen
August 10th 2016
