Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new – 2nd Corinthians 5:17.

Because believers are united with Jesus both in His death and resurrection, they participate in the new creation. That is, they receive the benefits of being restored by Christ to what God had created them to be.

We initially were created in the image of God (And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth – Genesis 1:26) We were created in holiness like our Father, but when Adam and Eve disobeyed the commandment of God not to eat of the tree of knowlege good and evil. When man fell, he retained an impaired image of God.

Regaining a likeness of God is one of the accomplishments of salvation. Our spiritual likeness is restored in justification. Our character likeness is being continuously developed in the process of sanctification. Sanctification is not exclusive to a particular denomination; it’s for denominations that profess to be Christian or say they believe in God.

When God brought Israel out of bondage with the Egyptians to bring them to the Promised Land, His commandment was not to be like the surrounding nations (Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances – Leviticus 18:2-3). They were not to practice the actions of the surrounding nations because it was an abomination to Him.

Although God gave them His commandments, they would not continue to follow them. They would sin against His commandment, and so God would take His arm of protection from around them, and their enemies would put them in captivity. When they went into captivity, they would humble themselves, repent, and follow the commandments for a period before they would start disobeying His commandments again.

Today’s society, many are professing to be Christians, but like the Israelites, they have not fully submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They want to serve God, but they also want to live their lifestyle according to the secular world. Satan is the god of this world (In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them – 2nd Corinthians 4:4). Satan is influencing people by his ministers; there are many ways to God; live the way you want because God loves you and you will enter heaven no matter how your lifestyle is against the Word of God.

Those who desire to enter heaven must read the Word of God and follow its instructions; otherwise, they will be entering hell at their death or the coming of Jesus. Just as He commanded Adam and Eve, the Israelites of what to do or not to do His Word is instructing today’s Christians on the dos and don’ts. God is a promise keeper; what He said He would do, He will do, whether it’s blessings or disciplining.

Many think that because they have their names on the church roll or are working in different positions in the ministry, they have a key to enter heaven. According to the Word of God, if we’re living hypocritical lives, we are not the children of God (Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord – 2nd Corinthians 6:17). We can’t commit the actions of the world and have fellowship with the Father.

Those professing to be Christians should be as our Lord ( He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked – 1st John 2:6). His disciples are called to imitate Jesus’ devotion to God and compassion and love toward others. We’re not to love the world or the actions of the world (Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him – 1st John 2:15). We can’t love the world and love God; it’s like trying to mix water with oil, it does not blend!

Jesus is returning for His church (For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel and with the triumph of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord – 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17). Although the word Rapture does not occur in the English Bible, the Latin Bible uses the verb from which Rapture derives. The idea is expressed in the words “caught up”.

The Rapture is the first phase of Jesus’ return, involving every faithful Christian alive at that time. Christians will be caught up to meet Him in the clouds, instantaneously receiving glorified bodies. All those who died in Christ will be resurrected; those who are alive and remain saved at the time of the Rapture will be caught up with Jesus before the start of the “Seventieth Week of Daniel.” That is, the Great Tribulation. Those who continue to live their lives according to the world will be left behind.

Only the righteous shall inherit going to heaven (But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death – Revelation 21:8). “Fearful” cowardly, longing and yearning. “Unbelieving” are infidels, faithless. “Abominable” refers to those polluted with unnatural lust; immoral practices in connection with idolatry. “Murderers”, murdering people with their tongues and actions, drug dealers, and those who influence others to do the opposite of God’s written Word. “Whoremongers” fornication, adultery, both natural and spiritual. “Sorcerers” enchanted potions, charms, and enchantments seeking to produce supernatural effects in the lives of others. “Idolaters” Those who practice idolatry and abominable, immoral acts in worship of idols. “Dogs” False prophets, homosexuals {the price of a dog in Deuteronomy 2:17 refers to the wages acquired from male prostitution.} “Liars” False Christians, and those who lie, not telling the truth.

To enter heaven, one must be sanctified, meaning they have themselves under the Lordship of Jesus and the written Word.