The only way to God is by completing the process to go to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. We first must look at what John the Baptist said in regards to the Messiah. He preached about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins by the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:8 says, "I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Repentance is when someone has a drastic change of heart, that brings about a willing turning away from sinning. The way of the cross involves a person putting to death their earthly, fleshly desires daily and following the ways of Christ. If you assume that eternal life can be gained by good behavior alone, then you are sadly mistaken. (Galatians 3:10-14)
You must also be submerged in water in order to receive this baptism with the Holy Spirit. Baptism symbolizes the dying of our old, earthly self and reminds us that we are made new in Christ. So in order to get to heaven, first you must accept(believe that he exists) Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and repent or ask God to forgive you for all the sins that you have committed. Next, you must be submerged into a body of water by a minister of a church that follows the doctrine of Christ. Lastly, you must continue to live for righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit only and nothing evil, no not one single thought from your mind, which starts from your heart.
@siclone While many evangelicals dictate that you must be baptised by water it actually contravenes the scripture you just quoted.
To my mind that says literally that baptism with water was only symbolic of baptism of the spirit.
Otherwise you're putting yourself in an elite group "only those baptised by immersion in water" can get into heaven.
This admits no possibility of anyone getting into heaven accept those who attend the "one true church". Which is basically the exact opposite of what Jesus was getting at.
He didn't cast down Ceasar, or Pontius pilot or even Herrad.
He did however cast down the temple, over turned the money changers and threatened the power structures that said "We are the only way you get to God. You must listen to us and do as we say.".
That's why he was crucified. He stood up to ministers preaching what you preach there.
I urge you to pray on that.
There is a process to get to heaven, and Jesus is our key to get there. He is the Great Mediator, the One who knows us perfectly and can help us overcome whatever is holding us back. The purpose of this post was to show that he is willing that all of us return to God. However, not everyone is ready for the commitment at the same time. When a person is ready to take the steps, Jesus is there holding his hands out to help.
I can't believe that people who spent their lives doing good, but who never heard of Jesus, are going to end up in Hell. That would be unfair and wrong. I believe they go to the Spirit World and continue to learn and grow. There are many who come to repentance there, when they are ready to.
Paul speaks to the Corinthians about resurrection, and baptism for the dead, providing that necessary step for those who never had the opportunity in life: (1 Corinthians 15:29)
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
It would appear that it is up to us still in the mortal world to provide this baptism for those who died without it, so they can have a fair opportunity to get into heaven, too.
I love that symbolism of baptism: going under the water, which represents the grave, then rising up a new man or woman, a child of Christ. Our old, mal-adjusted selves dead and gone.
Seemed appropriate