Salvation per se is no guarantee for heaven if it is not maintained with righteousness till the end. Paul said of this in 1 Corinthians 9: 27, I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. Not everyone who has been saved will enter the kingdom of God. Many may sadly be disqualified. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 21, 26, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord; will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Worried about the illusion of ‘guaranteed salvation’, Paul said in Romans 6: 1, should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? Salvation and sin are opposed hence the bible says maintain your salvation diligently in the fear of God by grace we will be disqualified from heaven. It requires due effort not to slip so Paul said in Philippians 2: 12, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Paul maintained his salvation till the end when he said in 2 Timothy 4: 7-8, I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Paul knew his destiny, what about us? The thief on the cross was saved into eternity because he did not change his plea to Jesus nor do otherwise till his death.
Paul said also in Acts 20: 24, but I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only l may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the god news of God’s grace. How we end life is what matters not how we begin life or our pretenses. Paul valued his mission for Christ above his own life. This is Paul’s standard for qualifying for heaven. Can we pass the test? How do we rate ourselves on Paul’s barometer?
What can disqualify our salvation?
There are many grounds by which we may be disqualified from heaven even after we have been saved. We could be disqualified if we fail to maintain a higher standard of righteousness than the Pharisees, Matthew 5: 20. We could be disqualified if we fail to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, Matthew 5: 48.
We could be disqualified if we do not depend on God in faith like little children trust their parents, Mark 10: 14; Luke 18: 16. We could be disqualified if we do not seek joy in the Holy Spirit but rather food and drink, Romans 14: 17. Other disqualifications include disbelieve that we cannot inherit the kingdom with flesh and blood, 1 Corinthians 15: 50; failing to be peacemakers, Matthew 5: 9; failing to keep a pure in heart, Matthew 5: 8; Hebrews 10: 22; failing to maintain a rebirth, John 3: 3; 1 Peter 1: 23; disobeying Jesus, John 3: 36; and failing to be a shepherd of the church of God, Acts 20: 28.
We must not fail to exercise faith in God through Christ Jesus, Hebrews 11: 6; or belief, John 3: 16-18. We must not engage in wrongdoing after salvation, 1 Corinthians 6: 9. We must not avoid but obey what the word of God says, 1 John 2: 17. We must not fail to maintain faithfulness to God till death, James 1: 12; Revelation 2: 10. We must not be stumbling blocks to children from Jesus, Matthew 18: 6; Mark 9: 42; Luke 17: 2. We must do what will enable Jesus to remember us, Luke 23: 42; Hebrews 13: 1-3.
We must show obedience to God rather than sacrifice, 1 Samuel 15: 22; 2 Corinthians 10: 6, Hebrews 5: 8-9. We must depend on grace rather than work after salvation, Ephesians 2: 5, 8. We must show and share the unconditional love of Christ, John 13: 34; 15: 12, 17; Romans 12: 10; 13: 8; 1 John 4: 7, 11, 12. We must not be deceived after salvation that we have no sin, Revelation 7: 14; 1 John 1: 8; 1 Corinthians 3: 18. We must at all times acknowledge that Jesus died for us, Luke 10: 16; Romans 8: 34; 1 Thessalonians 4: 14.
We must at all times be led by the Holy Spirit, John 14: 26; 15: 26. We must not fail to bear good fruits, Matthew 3: 8; Luke 3: 8; Matthew 7: 19; Luke 3: 9; John 15:4-5, 8; 16. We must not fail to run a good race to a finish, Acts 20: 24; 2 Timothy 4: 5, 7-8. We must not fail to be vigilant, 1 Peter 5: 8; nor have our lamps without oil, Matthew 25: 8. Upon salvation, we must not fail to keep the friendship of Jesus in exchange for friendship with the world, James 4: 4; 2: 10.
We must not sell our birthright in Christ Jesus like Esau did, Hebrews 12: 16.We must be watchful and always bear in mind that we have a charge to keep which is righteousness. Jesus said in 2: 10 says be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Faithfulness in righteousness to the end is what matters. Are we and will we be faithful till the end?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, for failing to maintain our salvation in righteousness and holiness in you, we have disqualified ourselves from your kingdom and eternal presence. We are sorry and we return to you for cleansing and redemption. Wash our iniquities in your precious blood and restore us in you. Let us love you with all we have in truth and in spirit. Lead us to be true to you in your holy name, Amen!!
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