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QUESTION 132
There are religions which teach that you have to suffer for your sins, either here, or the hereafter, before entering into heaven. Is this right?

ANSWER:
That is religion, but not the Bible.  There are about 1600 different denominations in America. The reason being, each one has different teachings. It is being defiant to the sufferings of Christ, for us to say that we have to suffer for our sins, in order for us to get into heaven. It is true that we suffer BECAUSE of our sins, but not FOR them. All the suffering and death for sins that God ever required was accomplished when Christ cried, "It is finished," and then He gave up His life on the cross. (John 19:31). "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just or the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" 1 Peter 3:18.

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24. "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23. In the course of Christ's suffering He gave His life for sinners. This is all that the justice of God required. He "...appeared once in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Hebrews 9:26.

Salvation is not in religion. The word "religion" has the thought of an outward form. Much of it has no inward reality. Salvation is the opposite. It starts within and works out in the every day living.

Dear Reader, which do you have, religion or salvation?" Religion is doing, salvation is trusting what has done.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen