ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS WILL GO TO HEAVEN

The Bible repeatedly teaches that unless a man is considered righteous, he cannot spend eternity with Almighty God!  "Righteousness" is defined as "the state of him who is as he ought to be, the only condition acceptable by God."  One could say it is being holy like God is holy.  But the Bible says "...There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10)!  So how does one become righteous?  Here are a few verses that answer that question:

Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Romans 1:16-17 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth....For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Romans 3:22-23 - "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:  for there is no difference:  for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Romans 4:3-5 - "For what saith the Scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Romans 5:17-18 - "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

Romans 10:8-10 - "...The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the Word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

Philippians 3:9 - "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

Titus 3:5 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

Hebrews 11:7 - "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

Revelation 19:7-8 - "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

There is a vast difference between being religious and being righteous!

Religion is based upon trying to get to heaven by works!

Righteousness is God's gift to those who believe in the resurrected Lord,  Jesus Christ!