Is God going to ask me, “Why should I let you into heaven?”

It is only human to wonder what happens when you die. Nearly everyone does. Life eventually ends for all—regardless of gender, race, education, wealth, success, or morals. Most people believe there is an immaterial part of them called a soul or spirit, where their true self resides. After all, mere physical matter like flesh and bone can’t fully account for experiences like love, fear, peace, shame, desire, fulfillment, and hope. So, what happens to a person’s true self after their heart stops beating, their lungs stop functioning, and their brain stops working?

Some imagine that God will ask them a question: “Why should I let you into heaven?” It is as if they picture themselves standing in a courtroom where God, the judge, says, “Present your case for why you should be allowed to enter.” Although this scenario isn’t found in the Bible, it reveals something important about those who wonder what they would say: They are pondering life after death (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Deep inside, they may have concerns about what will happen to them if heaven and hell are real. Filled with worry, they may desperately try to recall the good they have done. Their anxiety may rise as mistakes, failures, and regrets also come to mind.

When people think about why they should go to heaven, they sometimes compare themselves to others. “I haven’t murdered anyone,” they say. However, the Bible is clear that God won’t find such arguments persuasive. At death, God won’t judge people according to the goodness of others, but according to His righteousness. Given this reality, how does a non-murderer measure up to God’s perfect standard? The answer is sobering: no better than a murderer. This is what the Bible means when it says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Going to heaven isn’t based on what you say to God after you die, but on how you respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ when you are alive. The bad news is that no one can measure up to God’s standard (Psalm 14:2–3). The “good news”—which is what “gospel” means—proclaims that God has sent His only Son, Jesus, to save those who fail to measure up (John 3:16). The gospel calls those who fall short to repent of sin and believe in Jesus (Mark 1:15). In this sense, “believe” doesn’t just mean accepting that Jesus existed 2,000 years ago. It means putting your trust in Him for salvation today (Romans 10:9–10). There is no other way to heaven, as Jesus said: “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Our sin separates us from God and results in death (Romans 6:23). Since Jesus lived a sinless life, the Father accepted His death on the cross as a substitute for ours (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead three days later signaled His victory over sin. When people put their trust in Him, He shares that victory with them (Romans 6:4–5). As Paul writes, God’s gift of salvation can’t be earned: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Responding to the gospel—repenting of sin and believing in Jesus—is an individual decision. Growing up in a Christian home isn’t sufficient. Attending church when you were young, or even for your whole life, isn’t sufficient. Knowing lots of Bible stories and memorizing verses isn’t sufficient. Serving Christian causes on mission trips, through charitable giving, or by supporting certain social issues isn’t sufficient. A person can do all of these, and much more, and still go to hell when they die because going to heaven is about personally trusting Jesus. As Peter said, Jesus is the only way: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Those who have responded to the gospel in faith will not hear God ask them, “Why should I let you into heaven?” Instead, they will hear Him say, “Welcome home” (John 14:1–3).

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