If you were to die today, and God were to ask, “Why should I allow you into My heaven?” what would your answer be?
This question is by far one of the most popular and effective tools used in contemporary evangelism to generate a religious discussion. No matter what response is given, the conversation can proceed in such a way that the gospel can be shared.
If a person were to reply, “I believe God should let me into heaven because I am a good person,” the Evangelist can turn to Scripture and point out that the Bible says, “as it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10). There is a reason why none is righteous. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God “(Rom. 3:23).
If a person were to say, “I believe God should let me into heaven because of my good works,” attention can be turned to Ephesians 2:8-9. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Our good works are like filthy rags in the sight of God. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6a).
If a person where to say, “I believe God should let me into heaven because He is a God of love,” the Evangelist can agree. The Bible does say, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). However, God is also just and cannot dismiss sin. Sin is a barrier to the love of God “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). What is to be done with sin?
The proper answer is that a person should be allowed into heaven only because they are covered by the blood of the Lamb, having called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin. The promise is given, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).
What the Evangelist wants to hear as an answer to the initial question is this.
“God should allow me into His heaven because I have confessed with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. I have made my confession of faith unto salvation. Amen and Amen.”
But there is another question that often comes to the mind of an awakened sinner. This question also arises in the heart of those who think seriously about righteousness, sin, and the judgment to come. The question is this: If God should say to you, “Come now and let us reason together. Why should I save you?” what would your answer be?
A humble heart, conscious of Biblical teaching, would honestly say, “There is no compelling reason why God should save me. I am guilty of sin and the soul that sins must die. The wages of sin is death, and I have earned my wages. I have sinned against God. However, I do plead with the LORD GOD to save.”
“Heavenly Father, please save me to honor the promise of Jesus who said, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:26-30).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because I am responding in my heart to the Great Invitation. ‘On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because it will justify and satisfy the work of Christ at Calvary. The prophet Isaiah said, ‘He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied’” (Isa. 53:11).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because there is no praise of You in Sheol. ‘For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?’” (Ps. 6:5).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because my salvation will abound to Your glory.”
“Heavenly Father, please save me because it is the proper thing to do. Does not Hebrews 2:10 teach, ‘it was fitting (proper) for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things,’ to bring ‘many sons to glory?’”
“Heavenly Father, please save me so that in the sheer number of souls saved, Jesus Christ should have preeminence over the number of those taken captive by the god of this world” (Col. 1:18).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because my salvation magnifies Your great mercy and grace. While I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me’” (Rom. 5:8).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because even the dogs get to eat the crumbs from their Master’s plate” (Matt. 15:27).
“Heavenly Father, please save me because if You do not, I shall eternally perish. My sins are my chains dragging me down to certain damnation for ‘the soul that sins shall die’” (Ezek. 18:20).
“Heavenly Father, please save me now, in this very hour for today is the day of salvation. If I hardened my heart because mercy passes me by, my sins shall provoke You and I shall be damned” (2 Cor. 6:2).
For those who struggle to find inner peace and assurance of salvation, for those awakened to the need for salvation from the penalty and pain of sin, but fear the day of grace has passed, return and plead with the Lord. Use tears and strong argument as to why He should save you, even in this very hour. Then, by faith, hope thou in God. Believe, by faith that salvation is flying to you on the wings of a snow-white Dove. Believe God is sending you His love, on the wings of a Dove.
“I do believe, I will believe,
That Jesus died for me,
That on the cross He shed His blood,
From sin to set me free.”~*~
“Come, ev’ry soul by sin oppressed—
there’s mercy with the Lord,
and He will surely give you rest
by trusting in His Word.Only trust Him, only trust Him,
only trust Him now;
He will save you, He will save you,
He will save you now.For Jesus shed His precious blood,
rich blessings to bestow;
plunge now into the crimson flood
that washes white as snow.Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way,
that leads you into rest;
believe in Him without delay,
and you are fully blest.Come then and join this holy band,
and on to glory go,
to dwell in that celestial land
where joys immortal flow.”~John H. Stockton
The Collected Works of Stanford E. Murrell 