This is the latest on Rick Warren and how to get to heaven. On his daily devotional blog, Rick Warren recently wrote an entry called You Can’t Get to Heaven on Your Own. This appears to be a biblical title, but the content which follows presents a deceptive and false grace. Warren wrote:
Most of the world figures they know how to get to Heaven. Ask 10 people, and you’ll likely hear answers like, “Just work real hard,” “Do more good than bad,” and “Be nice to people.”
That may be what the world thinks, but keep this in mind: You don’t have a chance of getting into Heaven by your own effort. You’ll never be good enough to get into a perfect place. You stopped being perfect a long time ago.
In fact, the Bible says you get into Heaven through the exact opposite approach: “If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace”(Romans 11:6 NASB).
Somebody could easily walk away from Warren’s message believing that there was nothing they needed to do in order to be saved, that no good works or self-effort was required. Like so many modern gospel presentations, repentance is omitted from the message. Our entering into heaven is not effortless as Warren would have us believe. Notice another passage from Paul’s epistle to the Romans which also mentions works:
But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:2-11)
Apparently eternal life is for those who “by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” Apparently glory, honor and peace is for everyone who “works what is good.” But I don’t want to present a gospel message on the other extreme and equally false. Repentance and good works alone cannot save you. Repentance and obedience must be motivated by faith. Repentance and faith are mentioned together in the gospel.
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14,15). There are two parts to Jesus’ Gospel proclamation: (1) the announcement of the kingdom, and (2) the command to repent and believe. Repentance and faith are referred to as the elementary principles. The writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1). When Paul exhorted the Ephesian elders, he recalled how he taught publicly and proclaimed from house to house, “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
But repentance alone, without faith cannot save a person. To make a comparison to our most basic bodily necessities: only eating will not sustain a person, apart from breathing, drinking water and sleeping, etc. But without eating, a person will eventually die. So repentance alone cannot save, but without repentance a person cannot be saved. Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was later remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. But his repentance, being mixed with worldly sorrow rather than godly sorrow and faith, worked death by hanging himself (Matthew 27:3-5).
But Rick Warren doesn’t mention faith or repentance in this particular message on getting to heaven. And what about the works that will keep you from heaven? In the passage above (Romans 2:2-11), those who “obey unrighteousness” will be rendered “indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish.” Elsewhere Paul said, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
Rick Warren continues:
This is the fundamental difference between Christianity and every other religion on Earth. You can summarize every other religion with the word “do.” Depending on the religion, there’s a different list of what to do, but regardless, there’s a list. And you must obey that list to get to Heaven. You have to earn your way to God.
Just because Jesus gave us commandments to keep does not mean that we earn or merit our salvation. Jesus said, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (Luke 17:10) No, we cannot “earn our way to God” but we must have obedient faith to “do all those things which we are commanded.” Otherwise we will not make it to heaven. Forget what Rick Warren has to say and look at what Jesus has to say about “doing” and getting to heaven. Jesus said,
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:21-26)
Rick Warren gives an opposite plan. He continues:
The Bible gives an opposite plan. The Bible says you get into Heaven by accepting what has already been done for you — that Jesus died on the cross 2,000 years ago for you.
Is it not evident from the passage above (Matthew 7:21-26) that there will be many who accepted what God had done for them – even prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name, and did many wonders in His name – but God will not accept them because they were also “workers of lawlessness”?
After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, the Scriptures say: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37). Did Peter say, “Just accept what God has already been done for you”? This is what Rick Warren has just said above. No. Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Preaching on Solomon’s Portico, Peter said, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). On another occasion Peter said, “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22). This is not what Rick Warren says because Rick Warren is preaching a false gospel. Rick Warren’s false gospel says:
Your only part in salvation is simply to accept that it was done for you. That’s grace. And it’s God’s gift to you.
Wrong! Grace is for obedience. Again, from Paul’s epistle to the Romans, “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name” (Romans 1:5). “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). On the contrary, the grace of Rick Warren is powerless and will not bring salvation because it does not teach you to do anything but “accept that it was done for you.” That’s not biblical grace.
Next time you hear or read a message from Rick Warren, keep in mind what Jesus and the apostles say on how to get to heaven.
SEE ALSO: