When it comes to salvation and getting to heaven, there are many misconceptions floating around in our culture today. Even among churchgoers and Christians, confusion exists about how we actually receive salvation. Let's explore what Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us about this vital topic:

 

 

"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast."

 

Common Misconceptions About Salvation

 

Research from Barna Group reveals some troubling statistics about what people believe regarding salvation:

 

 

 

 

• 53% of churchgoing folks believe that doing enough good things will get them to heaven

 

 

• 37% of born-again Christians think they can be good enough to earn their place in heaven

 

 

• 26% of born-again Christians believe that Jesus committed sin while on earth

 

 

 

These beliefs contradict what Scripture clearly teaches. If you believe you can earn your way to heaven or that Jesus was sinful, you're missing the truth of salvation.

 

Was Jesus Really Sinless?

 

The Bible is abundantly clear that Jesus lived a completely sinless life:

 

 

 

 

• 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

 

 

• Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

 

 

• 1 John 3:5: "You know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin."

 

 

• 1 Peter 2:22: "He committed no sin. Neither was deceit found in his mouth."

 

 

 

Jesus' sinlessness is essential to our salvation. He bore our guilt without having any of His own. He was the spotless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

 

Can Good Works Save Us?

 

Many people believe that if they're generally good people, they'll go to heaven. But Scripture tells us otherwise:

 

 

 

 

• Isaiah 64:6: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and our righteous acts are like filthy rags."

 

 

• Romans 3:10: "There is no one righteous, not even one."

 

 

• Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

 

 

• Romans 3:20: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law."

 

 

• Galatians 2:16: "A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ."

 

 

 

The truth is that none of us can be good enough to earn heaven. Our own goodness will never measure up to God's perfect standard of holiness.

 

What Does It Mean to Be Saved by Grace?

 

Grace is God's unmerited favor toward us. It's His goodness, not ours, that makes salvation possible. Every single person who gets to heaven will get there by the grace of God.

 

 

Heaven won't have a special section for "the good folks." Instead, it will be filled with people saying, "I have been covered by the grace of a God who loves me."

 

 

The rich young ruler in the Gospels thought he had kept all the commandments, but Jesus showed him that salvation wasn't about rule-keeping—it was about following Him. The young man went away sad because he wasn't willing to do what was required: connect with Jesus.

 

How Does Faith Transform Us?

 

While we're saved by grace through faith, genuine faith is never passive. When you truly have faith in Jesus, it changes who you are and what you do.

 

 

If you haven't changed since coming to faith in Jesus, you need to get reacquainted with Him. True faith will change:

 

 

 

 

• Your walk

 

 

• Your talk

 

 

• Your habits

 

 

• Your relationships

 

 

• Your actions

 

 

• Your attitudes

 

 

 

Jesus doesn't want a "once and done" relationship. He doesn't say, "High five me and I'll see you in eternity." Instead, He says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." He wants connection and relationship.

 

What Does Active Faith Look Like?

 

James 2:17 tells us that "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Active faith:

 

 

 

 

• Shares your story with others who need to hear what God has done for you

 

 

• Helps those in need, guided by the Holy Spirit

 

 

• Persists despite criticism (Jesus faced criticism too!)

 

 

• Bears fruit for others to benefit from

 

 

 

Think about fruit trees—they overcome harsh conditions to produce fruit, but that fruit isn't for themselves. It's for others. Similarly, the fruit of our faith benefits those around us.

 

How Do We Get to Heaven?

 

The answer is simple yet profound: through Jesus Christ alone. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

 

 

We go to heaven not because of our goodness but because of God's grace. We're saved by what Jesus did on the cross, paying the price for everything we've messed up.

 

 

The beautiful thing is that Jesus makes Himself easy to find. As David wrote in Psalm 139, no matter where we go, God is there. He doesn't leave us or forsake us.

 

Life Application

 

Take some time this week to reflect on these questions:

 

 

 

 

• Have I been trying to earn my salvation through good works rather than trusting in God's grace?

 

 

• Is my faith active or passive? How is my relationship with Jesus changing me?

 

 

• What fruit is my faith producing that benefits others?

 

 

• Am I boldly sharing my faith story with those who need to hear it?

 

 

 

The challenge for this week is to live out an active faith. Don't wait for someone else to do what God is calling you to do. Be bold in sharing your faith in a way that's authentic to who God created you to be.

 

 

Remember: You're going to heaven because of what Jesus did, not because of what you've done. His grace saves you, and your faith activates a transformed life that impacts others.