Are there two paths to heaven?

Kieran Shafritz, an eleven year old boy, was among the four Americans killed in the attacks in Sri Lanka last Sunday. He was a world traveler. He was learning three languages. His goal was to be a neurosurgeon. The terrorist(s) senselessly destroyed his life.

His father texted him on Sunday morning. The young man didn’t have time to reply. He was about to eat breakfast. An hour later he was dead.

The most important thing is to be ready to meet God. Eternity is very long. This life is very short. Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” (Mark 8:36) Jesus told the story of a man who tore down his barns to build bigger barns. His retirement plan was perfect. In Luke 12:19 he said, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” That very night he died and faced God.

The Bible is clear. There are only two possible paths to heaven. However, only one path is effective! Only one path actually leads a person to the right destination. In Romans chapter 10 verses 5 and 6 God identifies two possible paths to heaven.

The first path is called “the righteousness based on law.” Verse 5 says, “For Moses wrote about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.” The righteousness based on law is the path of good works. This is the person who works hard, tries to live a good life and earn their way into God’s presence.

Paul is quoting Leviticus 18:5. God said, “You shall therefore keep My statutes and My rules: if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.” Blessing does come from obeying God’s Word. However, as Paul pointed out, there is a deeper meaning. No person can obey God’s law perfectly. We all sin. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We all fall short of God’s standard.

Jesus summarized the Old Testament. In Luke 10:27-28 Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself…. Do this and you shall live.” Unfortunately, this standard is impossible. I have never loved God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I have never loved my neighbor as I love myself.

Why did God give us the Old Testament? The Old Testament demonstrates God is holy. There is a right way and a wrong way to worship Him. There may be many paths to the top of a mountain but there is only one way to worship God.

The Mosaic Law contains 613 different commandments. The first ten of those commands are known as the Ten Commandments. We cannot obey the Law perfectly. The standard is impossible. The righteousness God demands is internal as well as external.

The second path to heaven is called “the righteousness based on faith.” The righteousness based on faith is focused on Jesus. Why did Jesus come to earth? He came to die for our sins! John the Baptist saw Jesus for the first time in John 1. He identified Jesus as, “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!”

Why is the resurrection significant? After suffering on the cross for six hours Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) The Greek word Jesus used means, “Paid in full!” Jesus suffered in our place. He experienced the Father’s wrath for my sins and your sins. The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Martin Luther studied Romans 1:16-17. He discovered that God’s righteousness is not earned. It is credited. Credited means “to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to another person’s account.”

Genesis 15:6 says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Abraham did not work his way into God’s favor. He trusted in a coming Messiah.

Jesus lived a perfect life. He obeyed the Mosaic Law perfectly. The “righteousness based on faith” is believing and trusting in Jesus. Through repentance and faith His perfect righteousness is credited to your life. It is as if Jesus lived your life and you lived His perfect life!

We all sin. We all experience fear and guilt because of our sin. We know God is holy. He must punish our sin. We try many different ways to atone for our sins. Good works are insufficient. The standard is simply too high. Our only hope is Jesus and His work on the cross.

I cannot imagine the horror of an eleven year old boy planning to eat breakfast and have a great day with his entire life before him but instead he is murdered. My mind reels at the horror and pain experienced by the young man and his family. The Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2) None of us are promised tomorrow. This may be our last day. God is loving and merciful and compassionate. He has made a way- it is “the righteousness based on faith.” May we follow in the steps of Abraham and believe God!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.