So what saves us and gets us to heaven? Jesus does. The gospel (good news) is that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4.) It's God's action through Christ that saves us, not membership in a church. When you stand before Christ in the judgment, he won't ask to see your church membership card, but he will ask, "Do I know you?" And the only way to know Jesus is through his gospel – believing that he is God's Son (literally God in flesh,) that he is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, that he died and rose again on our behalf to erase our sins, and that he is now undisputed Lord of all. Once a person accepts that gospel from the heart, places his or her faith in Jesus to save him from hell and put him in heaven, repents of his past, and is baptized, he moves into the Christian life - the life of the saved (Acts 2:22-41.) So the only ones who are going to heaven are those who've been truly reborn spiritually. As Jesus put it, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3.)
This brings about a change, a change in how you think, your life style, and your attitude. With change comes Hope, Joy and Peace. Speaking of changing, I did somewhat of a study on caterpillars and found some interesting stuff on it. Did you know that the caterpillar has 12 eyes, 6 on each side of its head? They are arranged in a semicircle. You would think that he has perfect vision, but that's not the case. They merely are there to differentiate between light and dark. They are unable to see images. Now when the caterpillar cocoons itself, there is all of these changes going on. This is what is known as metamorphosis (The Greek word for Metamorphoun, which means to transfer or to change shape). Because of this change it no longer has those eyes. Everything turns into a goop, but somehow the brain stays intact. A study was done on some caterpillars where they were introduced to a certain smell, and when they came within a certain distance of that smell they were given an electric shock (not a severe one, just a little jolt). It eventually recognized the smell with the pain, but never knew what it was that was causing it or why because it could not see it. While in the cocoon though the eyes develop and so do a lot of other things like the wings. They are already inside the caterpillar. Amazing huh? Do you know what else is amazing, those 12 eyes turn into 2, but this time around they have a multitude of lenses that causes the butterfly to see more clearly. Now it not only can see what the smell was that was causing it pain, it also now knows what and why it was trying to keep it from it. It no longer wants any part of that smell. Think about the story from Saul to Paul. When Saul was out to find Christians he was blinded by what he thought was right because of what he was taught by men (Acts 9). However, when Jesus intervened, he was physically blinded. Jesus then sent him into the city where he was cocooned (surrounded by) by Christians where he metamorphosed into Paul. By cocooning Saul with Christians he was basically placing His (God's) hands around Saul for protection during this time. Now see, we are the working hands of God entrusted to do His work. When his eyes opened he immediately saw what he was doing and did not want any part of that life again.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
In summary; you don't have to go to church to be saved, but sure is nice to fellowship and worship with a church family where they can hold you accountable and keep you safe. I love my church.
