Barriers to Salvation

Understanding the barriers to salvation is important both for sharing your faith with others and for identifying things that may be stumbling blocks to your growth in faith. There may be intellectual, emotional, or spiritual barriers. While only a change of heart and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to come into one's life can bring about a saving faith, many roadblocks hinder a person from making the decision to change one's heart, a personal surrender to Christ.

1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect". Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat (fellowship) with him, and he with me."

Some barriers to salvation:

1) Pride. Salvation is a free gift that one cannot earn through good works. Thus, one must be humble enough to ask for God's help and give up the idea of earning entrance to heaven, the New Creation.

2) Fear. (worries) Some humans do not like change. Giving one's life to the Lord Jesus Christ will bring about change. Fear can be a barrier to salvation.

3) Ignorance and lack of understanding. Some are so busy with life and work (pressure) that they never even think about the afterlife or the claims of Christ, for which there is evidence. In the scientific community, there is a perceived conflict between science and the Bible (Intellectual Skepticism). This may be due to the error of thinking the Bible teaches a Young Earth (see the age of Earth page). Sometimes this is self-imposed ignorance; some knows there is evidence for Christ and the Bible, but for some reason, they do not want to even know the evidence. "Either/Or" Mentality, thinking that one must choose between scientific accuracy and the Bible's spiritual truth (they do not). Misunderstanding of God's Creation and Gen 1 (due to an error in the frame of reference or a Hebrew-to-English translation problem).

4) Unforgiveness (and anger): Unforgiveness is the act of holding onto past hurt, harboring bitterness, resentment, and anger toward an offender, which acts as a "poison" that damages emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. It manifests as replaying the offense and hardening one's emotions. Overcoming it requires a conscious decision to forgive, often aided by prayer. Some confuse forgiveness with trust; all must be forgiven, as freely as God has forgiven you, you must forgive others. The Lord Jesus Christ can help give you the power to forgive. Some cannot be trusted, most likely because they have not yet overcome a flaw; give this person forgiveness, not your trust.

5) Sin. (vice) Some learn about Jesus Christ's offer of free salvation and know that He is the risen Son of God. But know that, by giving their lives to Christ, they will be encouraged to change and give up some "sin" they are currently enjoying. We have heard some say, "I will give my life to Christ later". The problem is that not everyone has a later; we have no idea how many days the Lord has given us on earth. This is a dangerous place to live. Some love sin (vice) and have no desire to stop at all. If one rejects God's light, it is hard for God to reach these people. See God's Mercy in Death page.

6) Being trapped in a cult is a major barrier to salvation. All cults teach salvation by works (a different gospel, that is no gospel at all) and have a different Jesus (not the one found in the Bible). Due to the "us against them" teaching, many do not see a way out, even when there is help available for them. See what a cult page and What is Cult page.

7) Open door to the Occult. Not as common as the others, but a growing problem. The Bible describes the evil one (adversary) as a lion seeking someone to devour. See 1 Peter 5:8. There are many open doors to occult activity; once done (in Ignorance or on purpose), this becomes an added barrier to salvation. One must close the door (stop the occult activity), acknowledge it was wrong (repent) and ask the Lord Jesus Christ for deliverance (it is given freely). See Revelation 9:21, Acts 19:18-19, and Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Key prohibitions are found in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Leviticus 19:31, and Galatians 5:19-21

Ref:

Pride: Ephesians 2:8-9 Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 21:4 Obadiah 1:3 James 4:6

Fear: 1 John 4:18 2 T im 1:7 Matthew 8:26

Ignorance: Hosea 4:6, Ephesians 4:18 Acts 17:30 Rom 1:18-20

Unforgiveness: Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-35, and Mark 11:25

Sin: Isaiah 59:2 John 3:19-20 Proverbs 21:4 1 John 1:9

Cult: 2 Corinthians 11:4 Colossians 2:8 Mat. 24:24 Rom 11:6, Gal 2:21, Gal 5:4, Eph 2:8

Occult: 1 Peter 5:8 Colossians 2:8 Galatians 5:19-21