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The Bible makes it very clear that salvation is in our own hands. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was the price He paid to ensure that we have the freedom to choose and that the kingdom of heaven was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. The simple prayer of repentance (Acts 2.38), confessed voluntarily and sincerely, is all it takes to rescue each of us from hell, no matter what our sins.

All sins can be forgiven as long as we repent truly and accept Jesus Christ as our saviour and are washed in the sacred water of the Holy Spirit. If one person who repented went to hell it would make a mockery of Jesus' sacrifice.

However there are two things worth pointing out on the subject. Firstly we have no idea what the flames of hell entail as there is no detail given on this aspect and is touched upon only on a few occasions in the Bible. We know there is a lake of fire into which worthless sinners are sent, but whether the fire is a destructive fire or simply a fire that transforms the soul, in much the same way as a forge transforms molten iron into steel, there is no way of knowing.

Either way it is not a very nice place to be, but the second option at least gives hope even to the most stubborn of atheists that after a period of suffering and torment in the flames they will have the chance once more to repent and enter the new Jerusalem with everyone else.

Secondly, escaping hell and just making it into heaven is not the same as making it into the holy of holies of heaven where joy is truly eternal and everalasting. I believe there are many heavens and the highest state is reserved for those with extremely special loyalties to God. So our goal in life should not be just to behave as we please and then seek forgiveness at the last moment. While this might prove to be a get ouf of jail free card, it does not guarantee a high place in the heavenly realm. Our goal must be to live a holy and precious life, inasmuchas we can obey the will of God and praise His holy name.

We have been given free will and an open choice. and our actions determine whether or not our name goes into the book of life (Rev 20.15). A good indication of your suitability for heaven is to consider where your loyalties lie. To be truly repentent of your sins does not mean that you keep returning to sin, but that you make a sustained effort to avoid the path of sin. It is not possible to eliminate sin completely until the devil has been eliminated but through Jesus we are given protective armour, a spiritual defence against the forces of evil.

You have many chances to repent, and God's patience is infinite, but in the end if your priority is money or sex or any other of the physical appetites, it will be much harder for you to get into heaven. The best passport you have is love. If you arrive at that point of tolerance, compassion, adoration, piety, generosity, self-discipline, forgiveness and selflessness, all in the name of Christ, then you are on your way to glory everlasting.

Learn more about this author, Milton Johanides.
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