3 Reasons we don't go to heaven the moment we are born again.

[Pat]

WHAT mATTERS? Why don’t we go to heaven as soon as we believe?​

If we are saved, we will spend all eternity with God. We are only here on earth in these bodies for a speck of time, a vapor that is seen briefly, then gone. But who we really are, saved souls created by God, are never apart from His presence. God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, indwells all who have been born again. Then, when we physically die, we will be taken out of this earthly realm and will eternally abide in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Paul affirmed this when he said, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 We will be changed, clothed with a body like His, but the consciousness of who we are and what we have done will remain. We will then experience eternal life in the heavenlies, that until that point was only a hope or future expectation. “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 So then, if our destination is heaven, and scripture tells us that, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 why doesn’t God take us home as soon as we are born again? I see three reasons and there are probably more. Let me know your thoughts.

1. Only in this life will we get to exercise faith, and faith is what pleases God. Scripture tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him:” Hebrews 11:6 But, there will be no need to exercise faith once we are in heaven. We will be in His presence walking by sight not by faith. Listen to these verses: “For (now) we walk by faith, not by sight:” 2 Corinthians 5:7 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?” Romans 8:24 We remain here after salvation to demonstrate faith. 2. Going from being dead in Adam as a sinning enemy of God, to a perfect, righteous, sinless person in His presence, would be too great a shock for us to handle. God in His wisdom wants us to transition slowly, to experience eternal life here, just as Jesus did, “Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 Scripture also tells us, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:29 God wants us to become more like Jesus before taking us home. 3. God has chosen to use the weak and foolish things of this world, to confound the wise. Thus, Christianity is a stark contrast between God’s supernatural power for salvation, and what all works-based religions of the world preach. Paul put it this way, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 He leaves us here to use us according to His purposes and pleasure.

What matters? God has appointed a time for each of us to enter His presence through the veil of death. Hebrews 9:27 Since, “…all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 and “…the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a we shall all die. But the place we end up, which will be either heaven or hell, depends on whether we have trusted the promises of God for eternal life by believing the Gospel. “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23b “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” Romans 1:16 The choice is yours. If you have not done so already, receive the gift. Choose life.

 

[daygo]

WHAT mATTERS? Why don’t we go to heaven as soon as we believe?​

If we are saved, we will spend all eternity with God. We are only here on earth in these bodies for a speck of time, a vapor that is seen briefly, then gone. But who we really are, saved souls created by God, are never apart from His presence. God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, indwells all who have been born again. Then, when we physically die, we will be taken out of this earthly realm and will eternally abide in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Paul affirmed this when he said, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 We will be changed, clothed with a body like His, but the consciousness of who we are and what we have done will remain. We will then experience eternal life in the heavenlies, that until that point was only a hope or future expectation. “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 So then, if our destination is heaven, and scripture tells us that, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 why doesn’t God take us home as soon as we are born again? I see three reasons and there are probably more. Let me know your thoughts.

1. Only in this life will we get to exercise faith, and faith is what pleases God. Scripture tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him:” Hebrews 11:6 But, there will be no need to exercise faith once we are in heaven. We will be in His presence walking by sight not by faith. Listen to these verses: “For (now) we walk by faith, not by sight:” 2 Corinthians 5:7 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?” Romans 8:24 We remain here after salvation to demonstrate faith. 2. Going from being dead in Adam as a sinning enemy of God, to a perfect, righteous, sinless person in His presence, would be too great a shock for us to handle. God in His wisdom wants us to transition slowly, to experience eternal life here, just as Jesus did, “Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 Scripture also tells us, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:29 God wants us to become more like Jesus before taking us home. 3. God has chosen to use the weak and foolish things of this world, to confound the wise. Thus, Christianity is a stark contrast between God’s supernatural power for salvation, and what all works-based religions of the world preach. Paul put it this way, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 He leaves us here to use us according to His purposes and pleasure.

What matters? God has appointed a time for each of us to enter His presence through the veil of death. Hebrews 9:27 Since, “…all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 and “…the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a we shall all die. But the place we end up, which will be either heaven or hell, depends on whether we have trusted the promises of God for eternal life by believing the Gospel. “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23b “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” Romans 1:16 The choice is yours. If you have not done so already, receive the gift. Choose life.

When and up to the rapture yes.

 

[Nemophilist]

Why don’t we go to heaven as soon as we believe?​

Whew! There for a moment I thought you were trying to say if a person believes and is saved, then immediately dies, he/she does not go to heaven . But I get what you're saying and I agree.

 

[Pat]

Whew! There for a moment I thought you were trying to say if a person believes and is saved, then immediately dies, he/she does not go to heaven . But I get what you're saying and I agree.

Ha! Purgatory anyone? I am so thankful for the assurance that God gives us that the salvation He gives is only of Him, and His promise of eternal life is promised to those who believe the Gospel.

 

[SkyRider]

It would be nice and easier to live the Christian life here on Earth and serve the Lord better if our sin natures were taken away upon being born again. How many times do we get tripped up and our effectiveness short circuited by the old flesh nature? But perhaps - and its more than likely true - it does keep up depending on the Lord for His guidance, His provisions for us and His desire to cleanse us from all unrighteous, instead of us thinking that we can just get on along by ourselves now - like in automatic mode. Its keeps us from falling into the trap of pride...which He hates. Still, though....the sin desire is still a burden.

 

[Pat]

When I wrote this, I missed the most obvious reason; It is the saved who preach the Gospel. If we weren't here, who would preach?

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. :14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? :15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

[SkyRider]

When I wrote this, I missed the most obvious reason; It is the saved who preach the Gospel. If we weren't here, who would preach?

!

The stones would cry out if we weren’t here to witness about Him. Just as Jesus said to the religious leaders on Palm Sunday who were rebuking the crowds and Jesus Himself for not silencing the people who were welcoming Him into Jerusalem. If they didn’t proclaim who Christ was, then the very stones and creation would declare it.

But, since we are here for now, we don’t have to listen to Mick Jagger and the Stones crying it out. [sorry...couldn’t resist that last part. Something “started me up”]

 

[penbrat]

WHAT mATTERS? Why don’t we go to heaven as soon as we believe?​

If we are saved, we will spend all eternity with God. We are only here on earth in these bodies for a speck of time, a vapor that is seen briefly, then gone. But who we really are, saved souls created by God, are never apart from His presence. God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, indwells all who have been born again. Then, when we physically die, we will be taken out of this earthly realm and will eternally abide in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Paul affirmed this when he said, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8 We will be changed, clothed with a body like His, but the consciousness of who we are and what we have done will remain. We will then experience eternal life in the heavenlies, that until that point was only a hope or future expectation. “Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 So then, if our destination is heaven, and scripture tells us that, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15 why doesn’t God take us home as soon as we are born again? I see three reasons and there are probably more. Let me know your thoughts.

1. Only in this life will we get to exercise faith, and faith is what pleases God. Scripture tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him:” Hebrews 11:6 But, there will be no need to exercise faith once we are in heaven. We will be in His presence walking by sight not by faith. Listen to these verses: “For (now) we walk by faith, not by sight:” 2 Corinthians 5:7 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 “but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?” Romans 8:24 We remain here after salvation to demonstrate faith. 2. Going from being dead in Adam as a sinning enemy of God, to a perfect, righteous, sinless person in His presence, would be too great a shock for us to handle. God in His wisdom wants us to transition slowly, to experience eternal life here, just as Jesus did, “Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 Scripture also tells us, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:29 God wants us to become more like Jesus before taking us home. 3. God has chosen to use the weak and foolish things of this world, to confound the wise. Thus, Christianity is a stark contrast between God’s supernatural power for salvation, and what all works-based religions of the world preach. Paul put it this way, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 He leaves us here to use us according to His purposes and pleasure.

What matters? God has appointed a time for each of us to enter His presence through the veil of death. Hebrews 9:27 Since, “…all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 and “…the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a we shall all die. But the place we end up, which will be either heaven or hell, depends on whether we have trusted the promises of God for eternal life by believing the Gospel. “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23b “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” Romans 1:16 The choice is yours. If you have not done so already, receive the gift. Choose life.

Excellent. Reading this brought me comfort and peace today, which I needed. Thank you!