My Father's House
The Christian faith is unlike all other religions, so much so that Christians often say it is not religion at all, but a relationship. This idea is found in the pages of the Bible. All other faiths/religions are works-based. That is, there is a list of ethical/moral rules that, if one follows,s may give you deliverance or access to the faith's idea of heaven/nirvana/transcendental freedom/paradise/liberation and such.
The Bible declares that no list of rules or laws can gain access to '"paradise". On the contrary, all the laws that are imposed on us condemn us, as we cannot live up to this moral code/laws (Like the 10 Commandments).
In the Bible, God is called our Heavenly Father, and his followers are called Children of God; this is not a metaphor. At the gates of heaven, entrance is not by one's good works here on earth, as no one is good enough to enter on their own merits. God is so Holy that imperfect (sinners) humans cannot be in his presence. The Bible states it this way: Ephesians 2:8-9 " For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. "
Thinking that good works will gain entrance to heaven is a "boast". Grace is getting something one cannot earn, a free gift from God. If one has placed their faith that Jesus Christ has paid the debt that one cannot pay themself, then they are a Child of God. Thus, entrance to heaven is as simple as saying, "I am a Child of God, I would like to enter my Father's House". This picture should not be unusual, as it happens here on earth each day. Children disobey their earthly fathers, yet as their children, they enter their father's house and are fed, clothed, and allowed to sleep in peace. Why? Parents love their child and forgive them daily for the things they have done to hurt them. If a child were to break something expensive in the house, they would not be able to pay for it. So, who is the one who normally pays for the child's damage, the father (parents). Humans have done a lot of emotional and spiritual damage (the Bible calls this sin) to others and to God. Humans cannot fully bear the cost of this damage. So God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay this debt (this is done on the Cross; being God in the flesh, His one death and resurrection was able to pay the debt for all humans, past, present, and future). With this debt paid and received in faith, one can enter Heavenly Father's House, the New Creation/Heaven.
John 14:2-3: "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am"
Matthew 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...
John 1:12 "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Galatians 3:26 "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith."
New Creation (See New Creation page)
1 Corinthians 2:9 “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him.” " (The New Creation will be better than anyone can think or imagine). In the New Creation, there will be no pain, no suffering, no death, no evil, and no shame. (Rev 21)
Our current physical bodies are not suited for the New Creation. Before entering the New Creation, we will be refined and given a new body. Philippians 3:20-21).
Our current body is not suited for the New Creation. So, God will give us a new one with no decay, no pain, with no ability for death: ( 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 )
“Jesus Christ … will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21
Terms:
Debt paid by Jesus is called substitutionary atonement, noted as"paid in full" (see 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and Romans 5:8)
Sin is defined as any thought, word, action, or omission that violates God’s law, and misses the mark of His holiness. Also, as rebels against His will (1 John 3:4). It represents a separation from God.
Grace in the Bible is God's unmerited, free gift of love, favor, and forgiveness to humanity, primarily revealed through Jesus Christ. It is a central theme representing salvation not earned by works, but received by faith.
Justified by grace" refers to the biblical doctrine (Romans 3:24) that God freely declares sinners righteous, not based on their own works, but as a gift of His unmerited favor. This legal act of being justified, or acquitted of sin, is made possible through the redemption and atonement provided by Jesus Christ.
Atonement of sins is the process of repairing a broken relationship between humanity and God caused by sin, often interpreted as "at-one-ment" (unifying or reconciling parties). It involves canceling the debt of sin through sacrificial, redemptive action—primarily through Jesus Christ in Christianity—to remove guilt, provide forgiveness, and restore peace.