HOW WE CAN DISQUALIFY OURSELVES FROM HEAVEN
By Ron Fischer © 2006

The Bible makes it clear that there are things we can do to disqualify ourselves from inheriting the kingdom of God or entering the kingdom of Heaven. I have read stories of some Christians who have died and gone to hell because they did not repent of some sin in their life. Fortunately for them they were brought back to life and were given another opportunity to repent. The things that can disqualify us all have to do with wrong attitudes, wrong motives and not responding to God's conviction in our hearts. If our attitudes and motives are right and we respond to God's conviction, then as believers in Jesus Christ our eternity is safe and heaven is guaranteed. The right attitude and motives are summed up in the Great Commandments - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and "Love your neighbor as yourself" [1]. If we fulfill these two commandments then we will not sin, hence we should make this our highest priority. The things that will disqualify us are outside the boundaries of God's will and therefore will have negative consequences in our lives and beyond. We have total freedom to do whatever we wish, and will receive God's blessing, if we stay within God's boundaries.

Here is a list of things that can disqualify us:

Not repenting of sin
Living in sin and thinking it is OK with God is dangerous living. John the Baptist told people to repent and live a lifestyle of repentance [2]. Jesus and his apostles told people to repent [3] in order to be forgiven [4] and told people that if they do not repent of sin then they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore we should fear God and not sin because of the consequences [5].

Here are the sins that can disqualify us from heaven that are listed in the New Testament and backed up in the Old Testament [6]:

Those who will not repent of these sins, will not inherit the kingdom of God but instead end up in the lake of fire of burning sulfur where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth and tormented day and night forever and ever. This is the second death [7].

So what does it mean to repent? First we respond to God's conviction that sin is wrong and that we should stop doing it. Then we turn away from sin (renounce our sin) and desire to obey God. Then we confess our sin to God so that we will be forgiven [8]. Then trust God to help us overcome sin [9]. We can also ask others to pray for us using the power and authority of Jesus name to free us from any demonic spirits that torment and push us to sin.

When we repent, we can live with a clear conscience and know that God has forgiven us and will not judge us for those sins. God's mercy and forgiveness are new each day when we repent. Repentance is a daily lifestyle not just a one off thing. We have no need to fear judgement if we have a repentant heart [10].

Not forgiving others who have sinned against us.
Jesus said if we do not forgive others, then our heavenly Father will not forgive us. Another way to put it is, we will be forgiven the amount we forgive others [11]. Jesus also said that we will be judged the amount we judge others [12]. Those who hold onto hatred, discord (always disagreeing), jealousy, fits of rage, dissensions (always quarrelling), envy, or murder in their hearts cannot inherit the kingdom of God [13]. What does it mean to forgive others? Jesus is the ultimate forgiving person in that even when men crucified him he asked His Father God to forgive them of that sin [14]. Revenge belongs to God alone [15]. We need to release every person of our judgements and allow God to be their judge. Jesus tells us that we are to love our enemies, bless them and pray for them [16]. This may help cause them to repent but if they do not repent then God will judge them [17]. Governing forces do have the right to enforce God's judgement for sin using His laws [18].

Criticizing or discouraging others.
Jesus said that if we call someone a fool that we could end up in the fire of hell. Slanderers will not inherit the kingdom of God [19]. We should not criticize or discourage others but encourage them to obey God and become all that God wants them to be. We need to repent of criticizing others [20].

Suicide - giving up on life and God.
Jesus and His apostles say that those who endure to the end will be saved and we are to endure even unto death by persecution [21]. Paul encourages us to not lose the crown we have received and not be disqualified from our prize [22]. Paul also writes that those who destroy their body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, will be destroyed [23]. We are not to pronounce judgement on our own lives nor kill ourselves. Murderers and cowards will not inherit the kingdom of God [24]. A person cannot repent after they have killed themselves. We need to trust God to the end and not give up on life.

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
If we have experienced and know the truth God's goodness through the Holy Spirit then decide to revile, degrade and call the Holy Spirit evil then we are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees were beginning to do this when they said that the Spirit in which Jesus cast out demons was an evil spirit [25]. We need to be careful to not say something is of the devil when indeed it is of God, otherwise we could be finding ourselves blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

Denying Christ and falling away from Christ
Those who have seen or experience God's power then deny Christ, fall away and harden their hearts to not repent, are lost forever [26]. We need to repent if we deny Christ, stay close him and trust him to the end.

Not sharing with others - living a selfish life
Jesus shared a few stories about the negative fate of some people who went to hell because they lived selfish lives and would not share with others in need. Those who are thieves, greedy, have selfish ambition, factions (contentious or self-seeking) will not inherit the kingdom of God [27]. We need to have a giving heart and be willing to share what we have with others.

Receiving the mark of the beast.
Those who receive the mark of the beast (antichrist) on their hand or forehead will be tormented with burning sulfur [28]. This mark is linked with worshipping the image of the beast that will control the world through a worldwide monetary system [29]. We are told that we are not to take that mark but trust God instead. Cowards will not inherit the kingdom of God [30]. We need to love God even unto death as Christ has loved us unto death.

Revelation from God himself gives us eternal security:
It is important to have a repentant heart so that we do not disqualify ourselves but it is also important to experience God's love for us and have the security and revelation from God himself that we are going to heaven. I wrote another article called "How Can We Know God And That We Are Going To Heaven?" that will help you to understand how to connect with God and receive from Him personally.

For more articles about the New Testament Church you can visit http://www.edmontonhousechurches.com/ARTICLES.html.

Bible References:
[1] DT 6:4-5; DT 11:1; DT 30:15-16; JOS 22:5; JOS 23:11; PS 31:23; MT 22:37-40; MK 12:29-34; LK 10:27; JN 13:34-35; RO 13:8; 1CO 16:21-24; EPH 6:24; 1TH 3:12; 1PE 1:22; 1JN 3:11,21-24; 1JN 4:7-13; 2JN 1:4-6
[2] MT 3:1-3,7-10; LK 3:7-9; AC 13:24
[3] MT 4:17; MK 1:14-15; MK 6:12; LK 5:31; LK 13:3,5; AC 5:29-32; AC 8:20-24; AC 17:30; AC 20:21; REV 2:4-4,14-16,20-23; REV 3:1-3,19-20
[4] LK 24:45-47; AC 2:38; AC 3:19-20; AC 11:18; AC 26:20; 2CO 7:8-10; 2PE 3:8-19
[5] PR 16:6; MT 10:28; LK 12:4-5
[6] MT 5:17-22,27,28;6:14-15;7:1-2,21;18:2-4;19:16-30; MK 7:20-23; JN 3:16-18,34-36; RO 13:11-14; 1CO 5:9-13;6:9-11; COL 3:1-10; GAL 5:19-21; EPH 5:3-7; HEB 12:14-17;13:4; TH 4:3-8; JU 1:3-7; REV 9:20-21;20:10,14-15;21:6-8,27;22:14
[7] MT 5:17-22; MT 7:21-23; MT 13:40-42; MT 13:47-50; MT 18:2-9; MT 24:45-51; MT 25:14-30; MK 9:39-49; MK 10:13-16; MK 10:17-31; LK 13:22-28; LK 18:15-17; REV 20:10-15
[8] 1JN 1:8-10; 1JN 2:1-2
[9]
[10] No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
[11] MT 6:12,14-15; MT 18:21-35; MK 11:25; LK 6:37-38; LK 11:4; LK 17:3-4; JN 10:23; 2CO 2:5-11; COL 3:12-16
[12] MT 7:1-5; LK 6:37-42; JAS 4:11-12; RO 2:1-3; RO 14:1-4,9-13; 1CO 4:1-5; JAS 5:9
[13] GAL 5:20; REV 21:8; REV 22:15
[14] LK 23:34
[15] HEB 10:30-31
[16] LK 6:32-36; RO 12:14
[17] AC 10:39-43; AC 17:29-31; RO 2:4-16; 1PE 4:5; JUDE 1:14-15; REV 6:9-11; REV 20:11-13
[18] 1CO 5:9-13; 2TI 4:1-2
[19] 1CO 6:10
[20] 1PE 3:8-10
[21]
[22]
[23] 1CO 3:16-17
[24]
[25] MT 12:22-32; MK 3:22-29; LK 12:10
[26] MT 10:32-33; MT 11:6; MT 16:24-26; MK 4:13-17; MK 8:34-36; LK 7:23; LK 9:23-25; LK 7:23; LK 8:11-13; JN 3:16-18,34-36; 2TI 2:11-12; HEB 6:4-6
[27] MT 19:14-27; MT 25:31-46; LK 18:18-30; 1CO 6:10; GAL 5:20; EPH 5:5
[28] (REV 14:9-12)
[29]
[30]