This question is not often asked because most people who are professing Christians think if you profess Christ and are a good person, you will enter heaven. Is that true? I steadfastly say, No! True Christians are mortified by their sin. True Christians avoid sin with all their heart. True Christians are not like they were before they were born-again. True Christians obey God, not the thoughts and ideas of mankind. True Christians trust and obey God’s Word, the Bible. True Christians can be recognized by their fruits, and a false Christian will have no idea what I mean by fruits. Will You Enter Heaven? I say that only about 20-30 percent of people who profess to be Christians will enter heaven. Let’s explore why I believe this to be true.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Thereat means [to that place] referring to the place of eternal destruction, Hell.
Matthew said we must enter the strait gate and travel the narrow path. The strait or narrow gate could be likened to a turnstile at an attraction. You get in through faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord; he is the only way. There is no jumping over the turnstile or going around because you must enter through faith with integrity and sincerity. Then, you travel the narrow path. The Greek word stenós means narrow; (figuratively) it is the closely defined path God ordains to travel on to gain His approval. Narrow further means narrow from obstacles standing close about your path.[1] Think of this as a tight, narrow obstacle course where you often have to squeeze through sideways or squirm through on your belly.
Most people try to enter through the wide gate and travel the broad path. This symbolism means that even professing Christians live however they please. They may appear very Christian at church or mass, but as soon as they leave, they act and react like the godless world around them. I believe most “Christians” would fall into this category. A genuine Christian is a Christian every moment of every day, and when they sin, they feel mortified about their sin and immediately petition God for forgiveness. We all sin, but our Christianity lies in how we react to our sins. We are of the world if we can sin without regret or remorse. We are of God if sin makes us feel dirty, disgusted, and repentant.
Christian Statistics
According to Good Faith Media, there are 2.6 billion Christians in the world today, and they are projecting 3.3 billion by 2050.[2] I’m afraid I must disagree with their numbers because Christianity is, in many instances, not Christianity. So, my estimate of the volume of genuine Christians is more like 5 to 8 million true Christians on earth. How can I make such a low estimate? I make that prediction from personal observation. People all around me say they are Christians but live their lives the same as everyone around them. They use profanity, they drink alcohol until they are inebriated, they act and react in very non-Christian ways, or they act and react in pseudo-Christian ways. There are many false teachers in the world today, and they are teaching unbiblical doctrines and theology. Most professing Christians are so Biblically illiterate that they fall for the lies from these false teachers.
I hope I’m wrong, and a billion or more enter heaven, but I don’t think that’s likely. Many professing Catholics only go to mass on special occasions and live any way they please as soon as their Catholic mass is over. Many protestants act the same way. It’s disheartening. Again, I believe that only 5-8 million Christians would enter heaven if the Lord returned today. That’s a conservative estimate. It could be a much lower number.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Not everyone that calls Jesus Lord will enter heaven. Jesus said that – not one of His apostles, but Jesus Himself. Those who are truly born-again and live to do God’s will all the time, not just some of the time, will enter heaven. The part-time Christians or occasional Christians will not. Oh, these part-time Christians will have excuses for thinking they deserve to enter heaven. They’ll say didn’t I prophesy in your name, didn’t I cast out demons, didn’t I do wonderful things, didn’t I speak in tongues, didn’t I preach something resembling your gospel? And numerous other excuses. Then Jesus will look at them individually and say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” That is the most horrible thing any human will ever hear. To paraphrase, Jesus said, [I never knew you, so depart from me, you who consistently do wickedness!]
I will do things God’s way so I never have to hear anything that bone-chillingly horrifying.
Will You Enter Heaven?
If you’re unsure or need confirmation that you are indeed going to heaven, read and understand 1 John 1-5. Yes, the whole book. It’s only five short chapters that shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes to read, but I suggest you study through it with a good study Bible or multiple study Bibles.
If you want to know, you will be going to heaven, examine yourself, your daily life, how you act and react, and how you conduct yourself in every situation. Are you consistently a Bible-believing, Bible-obeying, born-again disciple of Christ, following God’s will via scripture and the Holy Spirit of God within you? Or are you just a good person trying to do good things while trying to get as much pleasure out of this world until you die, hoping you will get into heaven on your own merit? Hint – the first choice is correct. Examine your life! Before it is too late!! Get into heaven on Christ’s merit alone!
We get to heaven by God’s grace, imparted to us through our faith in Christ as our one-and-only Savior and Lord. If you try to get to heaven any other way, you will fail!! Not because I said so, but because Jesus Christ said so when he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6. Paul echoed this truth by saying,” For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
Please read 1 John 1-5 and examine yourself. Make sure you’re obeying scripture, which is the only place we should be looking for God’s will. I genuinely want to see you in heaven! Make sure you are heaven-bound!!
Blessings to you and your families, in Jesus’ name. Amen!!
[1] Strong's Greek: 4728. στενός (stenos) -- narrow. (n.d.). Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages. https://biblehub.com/greek/4728.htm
[2] Jr, Z. D. (2023, February 14). Global Christian population projected to reach 3.3 billion by 2050. Good Faith Media. https://goodfaithmedia.org/global-christian-population-projected-to-reach-3-3-billion-by-2050/
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