Why Jesus Truly Saves: The Path to Eternal Salvation
Although the body of Abraham is still lying here on earth where he was buried, awaiting the day of resurrection, yet his soul has been in Heaven enjoying Paradise with GOD and HIS Angels. This was why the rich man, (Dives) was able to see Lazarus enjoying Heaven in the “bosom of Abraham” – Luke 16:19-31. The same applies to the ‘Good Thief’ to whom JESUS promised, “TODAY you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23: 43). Although his dead body lay there at Golgotha, yet his soul went to Paradise that very day to be with Jesus our God as was promised him.
All we need to qualify for heaven is to die in the state of grace after having believed in Jesus and accepted Him as our LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOUR, which is what we do first at Baptism before the Holy Water is poured over our heads, having rejected Satan and accepted Jesus; and we are said to be born again- John 3:5. Having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the spirit takes His place inside our bodies made to be the “TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” -(1 Cor. 6: 19), and comes again with more gifts when we receive the sacrament of CONFIRMATION .
Some, Christian denominations profess this acceptance of JESUS as ‘Lord and Personal Saviour’ once in life, but Catholics re-affirm this vow every year during Easter, on Holy Saturday at mass. It is a well known fact that the souls of Christians who have repented and accepted Jesus and thus qualify for heaven do not ALL get to heaven on the day of death, like the ‘good thief’ did. Some of these holy souls are detained for some days, months or years in PURGATORY before being admitted into Heaven.
Although they are not yet in Heaven, these souls are called ‘holy’ because they have been saved – having accepted Jesus. For them, Heaven though not automatic, is only a matter of time as they must surely get there some day, since acceptance of Jesus does not always mean direct entry into Paradise.
Read more about Heaven Hell and Purgatory
For a deeper theological understanding of the mechanics of salvation, visit The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s guide to the Gospel.
