If I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, but I do not believe that he is God, will I go to heaven when I die?

Question

My concern centers on the issue of how God judges people and on what basis He determines where they will spend eternity. 

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus teaches that God will separate people into two groups, the sheep (the righteous) and the goats (the unrighteous).  The distinction is based on how they treated people in this life.  Here is the entire text (English Standard Version):

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
 41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Another scripture passage touching on this subject is Matthew 7:21-23:

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Verse 21 says that only those who DO the will of God will go to heaven.

Up to this point, apparently Jesus places greater stock in right behavior rather than in right belief.  

However, the Apostle Paul teaches the importance of right belief concerning the gospel as is recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11:

1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.
 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Belief appears to be emphasized here by the Paul.

Perhaps salvation involves a combination of right behavior AND right belief!.  

This brings us back to my opening question...Do I have to BELIEVE that Jesus is God in order to go to heaven when I die?  If so, what Scripture says that I have to believe this teaching in order for me to be considered a Christian?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Third attempt to post this answer - every time I put in a link in the source box, it fails and my answer is wiped.  I will answer without the links and try  to add them later.

This is a very good question, and one that vexed me for many years.  I believed the Trinity was a pagan doctrine and that worship should go only to God, the Father, and that Jesus was his Son and was not divine.  So entrenched was I in this view that even when I became a Christian, I still did not fully understand who Jesus really was.  Yes, it had been revealed to me that Jesus had died for me, that he was my Lord and my Saviour.  But it took several years before I finally understood the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In other words, I had repented, been forgiven and was indwelt by the Holy Spirit before it was revealed to me that Jesus was also God.  God does not expect us to run, spiritually speaking, before we can walk.  That is such a comfort!

I believe it is vital for all Christians to understand who Jesus really is, but when we first come to Christ, we have much to learn and it is not our grasp of theology that determines whether we will be saved or not.  It is our heart condition - and God can read our hearts and our minds.  All that is required, initially, is to earnestly seek him, because he will never turn anyone away.  After that, the Holy Spirit gets to work in the life of the believer to open their eyes so they can receive the true gospel.

The best approach is a prayerful approach.  Be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be open to being used by him.  You will be given the right words, at the right time.  I will try to get some links to you later.

? · Answer

The real evidence on how we believe is how we act. If I believe it, I will act on it. James 2:17 reflects this.

Matthew 25 is looking at the results of a living, active faith. These people were saved, then they acted on it.

Matthew 7 talks about people trusting in their actions to get into heaven. Notice the ones said that they prophesied, cast out demons, and did many mighty works. They expected to get into heaven, but were greatly disappointed. I feel sorry for them.

Matthew 7 also said what is necessary. Knowing the real Jesus is important.
Matthew 7:23  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Matthew 7 also says we need to DO the will of the Father. What is the will of the Father? 
John 6:40  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Is knowing that Jesus is God important for salvation?
John 8:24  I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

This is in John Chapter 8. This is the chapter that Jesus said he is the "I AM" in verse 58 and the Jews considered that blaspheme. This is the chapter that people try to explain away Jesus claim to deity.

So, don't just take my word for it - look and see what the Bible says. John says Jesus is a god in John 1:1. Look and see what kind of a god the Bible says Jesus is.

P.S. I encourage you to remember to pray a lot for your friend and be respectful. I'm convinced anyone coming to Christ is a miracle.

cuddlz24 · Answer

Since he taught that "I and my Father are one", and God tells us that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and the Word WAS God", and "the Word became flesh"...I would say that you do not actually believe the teachings of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 1:14, 14:6).

Since he is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), if you don't repent and place your faith in Christ (that means in ALL of his teachings as well) then you are disobeying the gospel of Christ and 1 Thessalonians1:7-9 tells us quite clearly what will happen to those who did not obey that gospel.

AnGe · Answer

According to the 10 commandments any sin, no mater how small it is, should be payed with death. 
God can't do other. 
In consequence He came with a Vow so that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ ( who took on himself the sin of the world ) shold be considered saved. Logic no sins no payment. 
But don't think other, Jesus was already forgiven, He is the Son of God. 
/Genesis 50./ I'm sure you wouldn't like to be in Joseph's brothers shoes. How could they be forgiven for what they did? Think of the feeling of guilt. The only thing that they needed was to believe, to trust in their brother and his love for them. Otherwise no reward only punishment.
We need to believe in Jesus and His work. In The Father, The Son and the Holy Goast.

James B · Answer

You're asking me to determine how God will Judge you?  Um, that is WAY beyond me...  I'm not your or anyone's judge.  Thank the Lord.

Christ himself told Nicodemus in the book of John 3, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN...  The Demons believe Christ is God and tremble in shock and fear, James 2:19-20...

Faith without works is dead...  Works without Faith is dead...  James 2:14-...   If you have Faith, your desire is to obedient and do what He tells you to do...  How do you do that?  Read His word to learn a lot more about Him and pray...  You'll know the prompting of the Holy Spirit...

You cannot make someone see God.  It is as futile as attempting to lasso the wind.  You do well to let them see how your life has changed and when they see the difference between you and the world.  They will ask if the Holy Spirit is prompting them.

Anonymous · Answer

Who did the OT people believe in and were waiting for ? The messiah,  John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
 John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
 John 9:9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
 John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. {Now: or, From henceforth} 
 John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
 John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
 John 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
If Jesus was not God then why did He suffer immensely, shed His innocent blood, and die a wrongful death on the cross for then ?  Romans  10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 10:36 "The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)" Their destiny is determined in Romans 10:13, and Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Whispering Trees · Answer

Too long for anyone to read but I can tell you right now you will not enter the kingdom through unbelief. Jesus said, "deny me before men and I will deny you before my Father in heaven." Read Phillippians Ch. 2 V: 6..Who (Christ) being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Don't you understand that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, are equally God, separate yet one in agreement?

Servant A · Answer

Within the gospels of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew, Luke and John Jesus himself spoken 77 Commandments to the world,

The first commandment Jesus ever spoke in his Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: 

Jesus gave about 69 more commandments just like this in the book of Matthew and only two or three in the book of John.

The final Commandment Jesus spoke was
"A New Commandment I Give you, Love one another as I haved love you" 

Jesus said,
My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.  Luke 8:21 (KJV)

Jesus said, 
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  Matt 7:24 (KJV)

Jesus said,
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 
John 14:25-26 (KJV)
-------------------
These verses state the God is the Father of Jesus the Christ, therefore, Jesus can not be God
and that works is greater than faith or belief, if you have faith than you believe, and if you believe than you will do what you say you believe. Only judging by the words of Jesus can you know if the actions of the believer are good or evil (the 77 Commandments or the last commandment given by Jesus. Love one another)
 
Jesus said,
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.  John 5:28-30 (KJV)

Jesus said,
 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 
Matt 16:27 (KJV)
.

Church of Corinth · Answer

Jesus taught that He is God.  He taught that He and the Father are one.  A person following the teachings of Jesus must accept that He is God.  Otherwise, they are merely following the teachings of Jesus with which they happen to agree.

James O · Answer

Only God can really know that
Christian faith cannot separate believing and living the doctrines about Christ and the moral teachings of Christ

Trending News

If I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, but I do not believe that he is God, will I go to heaven when I die?

14 Answers