Introduction : If people clearly know that there is the eternal kingdom of heaven after death, they will all make an effort to enter the kingdom. However, atheists say that there is no eternal life, no God, and no heaven for human beings. They also say that the life of human beings comes to an end when they die. Agnostics say that they are not sure about eternal life, God, and the kingdom of heaven. Besides, religionists say that they believe eternal life and the realm after death, but they insist that it is only their religion that leads human beings to that realm. What does our Christianity say?


1. How does the Bible describe human beings?
    1) Eternal spirits created in the image and likeness of God will be in heaven, clothed
        with bodies (Ge 1:26)
    2) Since they are corrupt, they are dead in spirit and live physically and mentally
        - senses and reason (Ro 3:23; 6:23)
    3) They are hopeless, but they can be saved (Ge 3:15; 3:20-21)

2. Salvation does not come from human beings
    - They can´t save themselves from sin, vanity, meaninglessness, death, and darkness.
    1) They can´t save themselves by any religious effort (Ac 4:12)
    2) They can´t save themselves by philosophical pursuit (Col 2:8; 2Co 10:5)
    3) They can´t save themselves by penance (Pr 16:2; Isa 64:6)

3. Salvation is the gift of God
    1) The earth and life itself are the gifts of God - they are not made by us (Jn 1:1-3)
    2) Salvation prepared by God - Jesus has overcome the despair of human beings
        through His death on the Cross (Isa 53:5-6)
    3) Jesus Christ is the best gift given to human beings (2Co 5:17)
    4) Eternal hope, affirmative resurrection (1Pe 1:21; Eph 2:5-6)

4. Grace and faith
    1) The meaning of grace
        (1) It is given freely (Ro 3:24)
        (2) Beautiful change (Eph 5:26-27; 4:13)
    2) Only by faith
        (1) It is not the collaboration of work and belief.
        (2) What does the Lord´s saying, "It is finished!" mean?
            - There is neither plus nor minus in the salvation of Jesus.
               It is a great sin to make the sacrifice and salvation of Jesus imperfect
               (2Ti 1:9; Ro 1:17)
        (3) We should believe and receive the gift of God with thankful hearts
            (Ro 10:10; Gal 3:9)


Conclusion : The godly work of believers is the fruit of faith but not the condition of faith. We live a changed life by faith, but changed deeds are not the condition for salvation.