Is there a heaven in the Bible?
If it is not Hebrew and Greek it is not the Bible, it is a translation.
Hell in the REAL Old Testament is SHEOL. Everybody went there.
Hell in the REAL New Testament is HADES or GEHENNA.
Hades is Greek mythology. Everybody went there.
Some Jews believe in reincarnation. Hang out in SHEOL between lifetimes.
Dal Timgar
What about those who do good works without faith? Lots of really good people don’t have the slightest use for faith. What happens to them?
Within context: those who love God do not continue in a sinful lifestyle.
Yes, until we are actualized in the choice we make, we will still slip up and commit sins until the end of our life on this earth.
ImNotMad2,
Do you realize that the two sentences you just posted are mutually contradictory?
Diogenes, shame. Certainly you realize that part of being a literalist Christian is a total disbelief in the whole concept of “contradiction.” 
This might explain “works” as it applies to salvation.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Is James teaching that more than a mere statement professing faith is necessary?
Oh, people. I am at fault. I should have been more specific. In hindsight, I really only wanted people who believe the Bible to be the Word of God to respond. As for you who have posted who do not believe so, why are you wasting your time showing how to get to the “make-believe” heaven according to a book you don’t trust as far as you can throw? You see, I find it much easier to teach Biblical truth to people who accept the Bible as true to start with. It’s much easier for me than starting from scratch trying to “prove” the Bible is true. Don’t you understand faith? You can’t reason faith. The flesh is worthless when it comes to faith. It is spiritual. So, anyway, thanks to those few of you who got it right. As for salvation by works plus faith, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Catholics all believe it.Read Romans. Try to explain away the Spirit’s teaching on the law and how it brings death, not life. The just shall live by faith, not the law. The flesh profitteth nothing. Fellow Christians, look at this thread and see proof of spiritual blindness. You see people who read God’s word, and yet trade the truth for a lie. And as for explaining all the so-called verses that state we will be judged by our works, well, they’re true. Don’t you know that believers will be rewarded for their works? Rewards and salvation are two entirely different things. The GIFT of God is eternal life. A gift cannot be awarded for effort. It would cease to be a gift. Look it up in the dictionary. Rightly divide the word of truth. God is not mistaken in his book, your understanding of English is mistaken. Explain this, please: Romans3:20 Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference…27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
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In hindsight, I really only wanted people who believe the Bible to be the Word of God to respond.
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All right, I’ll give it a shot. In about 3 1/2 hours, I’ll be serving on the altar of my Episcopal Church, if that’s a true enough Christian for you. I’ve also read all 4 Gospels, along with a few extra-canonical ones, and the letters of Paul many times, although Beryl_Mooncalf quoted my favorite Epistle.
Jesus and Paul do contradict each other at times in spirit if nothing else. More to the point, I’ve seen Christians use Paul in a way which, in my opinion, directly contradicts what I see as the teachings of Christ. When it comes to knowledge of the Bible, while badchad may think I’m a delusional nutcase, he knows the Bible better than I do and I respect his knowledge, even though I disagree with his opinion of my faith. You might also want to check out www.biblegateway.com for checking translations of verses.
Then there’s this:
You’re new here and I am a Christian, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you missed the recent brouhaha in the BBQ Pit in which someone else who held that opinion was told quite firmly that she was wrong and given evidence to back it. As a current thread in the Pit notes, I have noticed that all too often those who speak most of Christ act in a most un-Christian fashion. I have long believed that if I have to tell you I’m a Christian, I’m doing a lousy job of it.
My father has been known to say that if God cannot tell the difference between a person who goes to church every Sunday (he’d probably add “and publicly proclaims his faith”, if he were American) but does horrible things the other six days of the week and someone who never darkens the door of a church but is a good person who genuinely helps others, He ain’t worth worshipping. I agree. We are saved by Grace, not faith, for faith, too is a decision and an act of will to some extent (how much is still up for debate, at least around here). Strong and compelling as my faith is to me, I will not believe in God as some of my brother and sister Christians have presented Him to be. I’ve told Him that in no uncertain terms, and I accept the consequences.
Catholics, Latter-Day Saints, even us renegade Episcopalians believe that our actions reflect our Salvation, not earn them. If we do not show forth the Grace which we believe saved us, then we are no better than the servant in the one parable who, when entrusted with a sum of money by his master, buried it in the ground rather than investing it in such a way that it might be increased.
CJ
Sorry “Teach”, we didn’t know this was a pop quiz.:rolleyes:
johnny miles
You see, I find it much easier to teach Biblical truth to people who accept the Bible as true to start with.
I’ll bet.
So what are the criteria to receive “grace?” If faith doesn’t matter and works don’t matter, then is grace just purely arbitrary? Does an unrepentant serial killer have the same chance of receiving grace as Mother Teresa? If not, why not?
Faith does matter and works do matter, as already has been stated in this thread. Salvation is given by grace, through faith, unto good works.
God is willing to give grace to any who seek it; but he will not force us to accept it.
johnny miles,
Your belief that salvation comes from no more than faith is faulty.
“I’m saved by words alone” is a false statement.
Mat 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
“I’m saved by words alone” would not result in “few there be that find it”
Mat 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
“I’m saved by words alone” is false prophecy.
A little research into Paul’s life will benefit you greatly. Learn what he faced and why he offered Christian salvation by faith alone. What was Christianity competing against? Did Paul undersell it intentionally to gain followers who might otherwise have found it too demanding, or lacking rituals they had come to enjoy with their current practices?
Quoting favorable scriptures, out of context, isn’t teaching, it is misleading. (See Mat 7:15)
I would suggest you focus on the teachings of James, he was, after all, the brother of Jesus. One can assume that he knew Jesus better than any of the other apostles. Paul never met Jesus. (he,arguably, was not an apostle either.)
Faith, without works, does not provide salvation. It is clearly contrary to the teachings of James.
johnny
Well, big boy, we ain’t the mindless masses sitting in your pews, hanging on your every word, and accepting it as truth just because you say it is so.
Here, where the whole point is dispelling ignorance, you’ve got to back up your words with evidence. Welcome to the real world…
Just curious, Beryl_Mooncalf, what do words have to do with faith, and why the substitution?
Faith isn’t some magical thing, it’s belief or lack of based on my character. If I say all who read this will receive a virus, and you believe me, you will run a virus scan, if not, you won’t. You will have faith based on who I am, if I have the power to do that, and if it’s possible to do it. If you do not believe me, you still have faith, and that is also shown my your actions. Faith always produces actions, even if the action is to ignore what I’ve said.
Remember that Jesus said that there was no one born of women greater than John the Baptist . . . “But he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” In Christ, your works are pleasing to God. They can’t and don’t justify you, but you can now make God smile when you do good works, evangelize, love your husband/wife, etc . . . because you are in Christ. The motive for what you do as a Christian isn’t tainted by guilt. Love and gratitude motivate your life of godliness. It’s like a criminal trying to do something good for the judge before sentence is given. That’s an attempt to pervert justice. But if the judge pays the criminal’s fine himself out of his own hard-earned money and the criminal is released on the basis of his fine being paid, he is free to show the judge how much he appreciates kindness. One is an attempt to pervert justice, the other is gratitude in action. One makes the judge frown with displeasure, the other makes him smile.
I have sinned since I became a Christian – but it is against my will. I may take the large piece of chocolate cake, or let a lustful thought enter my mind. However, if I sin willfully, then I am a hypocrite and not a Christian at all. The first Epistle of John makes that very clear. When I am aware that I have done something wrong, I ask for God’s forgiveness.
This answer makes no sense to me. “Grace through faith” would make faith a criterion would it not? Is it possible to receive grace without any faith? That’s my question.
Faith is based on character? Are you saying that those who don’t have faith don’t have character? Cite?
Huh? 
If I don’t believe* you then I don’t have faith. What definition of “faith” are you using?
Why not?
What if I love my wife and do good works without being in Christ? Does it still make God smile?
Neither is the motive for what I do as an agnostic.
What if I don’t believe that I am a criminal? What if I don’t believe that there is anything to be “saved” from or any reward for faith at all? What if in spite of all that I still want to be a good person and do good works and love my family? Does God fry good people just because they don’t believe he exists? How could a God who tortures good people forever ever be called good himself?
How the hell can you sin “against your will?” Do you have control of your actions or don’t you? Is your mind being controlled by Satan?
If you sin at all, you sin willfully…and if you’re already saved, then why do you need more forgiveness.
Also how do you know you’re saved?If faith doesn’t save you and works don’t save you then how can anyone know that they are saved?
What is the criterion to recive grace? How does God decide if works and faith mean nothing?
Well Diogenes, I’m not sure if I am understanding this passage correctly, but it seems I (an atheist) will be saved by the Christian god, because my wife is a believer.
1 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Well that’s a relief. My wife is Catholic so I must be just alright, then. That’s good to know, thanks. 