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In trying to understand what the bible says on the topic of who decides whether we go to heaven, I was reading this page on What determines whether you'll go to heaven or hell. I found it to be a bit vague on that question (although it did answer what decides whether we go to heaven). The pages suggests that it is up to the individual, but if we don't obey the way of the gospel (Romans 2:8) we will not be permitted into heaven. Permitted by whom? The article concluded with this:

Obedience or non-obedience to God’s word will settle one’s destiny. So who determines our eternal destiny? Each person does. Where will your eternal destiny be?

What is the Biblical Basis for those who say that I make this decision? And if it really is me who decides, why can't I just decide that I'll go to heaven regardless of whether I follow the gospel?

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    From a Catholic point of view: God decides whether we go to heaven, but He decides on the basis of what we have done during our lives. Since we can choose what we do (or fail to do) during our lives, we (indirectly) choose what God's decision will be.
    – Andreas Blass
    Jun 16, 2022 at 13:57
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    @quant Anne's answer pretty much sums up why we need this question narrowed down. A good rule of thumb is that if the question can only be answered by God, then it needs to appeal to some other authority on Earth. Not saying it's not a good and worthy question, but I don't want to have to see the answers (Catholics and Protestants vary on this for sure) battle each other.
    – Peter Turner ♦
    Jun 16, 2022 at 16:10
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    @PeterTurner I've clarified the question by focusing on "who" instead "what". I realise the Quora link was a bit of a distraction so I've removed it.
    – quant
    Jun 16, 2022 at 16:21
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    @quant I see you're a good sport about this process - thanks, just editing the tags doesn't bring something into being on topic, it's a good start. Does this edit reflect what you're getting at?
    – Peter Turner ♦
    Jun 16, 2022 at 16:35
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    I think the first thing to realize is that this is like your ability to decide to not go to jail. It is, in a sense, "your decision" in that you can decide (if you believe in libertarian free will; there's a whole other topic there!) to refrain from actions which would land you in jail, but you can't just arbitrarily decide "I won't go to jail" while also engaging in actions that would normally result in being sent to jail. IOW, you can control outcomes (e.g. "going to heaven") by controlling causes (i.e. your actions), but you can't control outcomes regardless of causes.
    – Matthew
    Jun 16, 2022 at 16:58

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On Stack Christianity, a specific question gets specific answers. You specifically asked "WHO decides whether I go to heaven?" not "WHAT decides whether I go to heaven?" Your specific question would get concentrated answers as to why God determines who gets into his heaven. After all, it's his dwelling place (Deuteronomy 26:15; Psalm 46:4; 1 Timothy 6:15-16)! There are unlikely to be many answerers here who would disagree with God being the one who ultimately determines whether you (or anyone else) gets into heaven. Granted, some denominations think a particular person who they say founded their group will be delegated that task, but the Bible is clear that it is only Jesus Christ who judges everyone (John 5:21-23).

However, you then immediately introduced that different question, as to WHAT determines entry, by providing the link for The Coastal Courier article about that. Then you referred us to the Quora page which goes all over the place with random answers and a whole raft of related questions. That page is all about peoples' opinions, and often descends into arguments between people with differing beliefs.

Stack Christianity actively discourages that kind of thing. Focused questions are encouraged, with laser-like answers sticking to the point. This means that your question at the top is clear, and so is the related one in your comments, "But if it's me who decides, why can't I just decide that I'll go to heaven regardless of whether I follow the gospel?"

My answer to those two connected questions is simply this: God has revealed to humanity in his written word what heaven is all about, and why it is not open to all people, after they have died. In particular, in the last book of the Bible, he has used pictorial language to point to a future day when all the living and all the dead will be judged before the great white throne, some being cast away, others allowed in (Revelation 21:11-15). There is far too much in the Bible about this to put into an answer here. Much of what Jesus said, while on earth, deals with the kingdom of heaven and who get in and who are kept out.

As the risen Christ is the judge before whom all will stand for judgment, and the gospel is the good news of Christ (what he did to open up heaven being one aspect of that), then to know WHAT is required by God and Christ to get into the kingdom of heaven would entail studying what the Bible says about all of that. But that, as I have pointed out, is another question! Grasping whether there's any link between that and human free will cannot begin until first God's authority and God's requirements are believed.

Once your first question is resolved, then the second question you raised is settled. No human decides for themself! The reason why believing and obeying the gospel of Christ is so vital follows on. Only then can the question of free will be tackled. But referring us to those other sites is just muddying the waters. Hopefully, other answers will go more deeply into God being the one who decides who gets into his heaven.

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    Great.... Comment! Maybe we should move this to meta!
    – Peter Turner ♦
    Jun 16, 2022 at 16:07
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    @Anne thanks for the great answer. The focus on "what" was not intentional, I was entirely concerned with "who". You've answered both but I've tried to clarify the question to focus on "who" by removing the Quora link, which I had included only insofar as I thought it implicitly touched on the topic of "who" but I see now that this just muddied my own question so I've removed reference to it.
    – quant
    Jun 16, 2022 at 16:23
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The simple answer is that there is no biblical basis for anyone (but Jesus) going to God's Heaven.

That idea is one of many non-biblical concepts that most Christians seem to accept without any biblical evidence.

For many decades, people have offered cash to anyone that can show where the Bible promises that the reward of the saved is to go to Heaven. No one has ever successfully claimed the offer.

Here are a couple of examples:

For over twenty-eight years, I have offered a certified cashier’s check for $10,000 to anyone who can come up with the words “immortal soul,” “When we get to heaven,” “I will see you in heaven,” and “We go to heaven when we die.”

Not in all those twenty-eight years, with millions hearing my words, has a single person been able to claim the certified cashier’s check for $10,000!

Why not?

Simply because such words are not in the Bible!

— Believe it or Not… The Bible Does NOT Promise “Heaven”! – Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

and:

Do The Dead Go To Heaven?

Well, I wondered when I saw some of these passages; and I began to wonder what happens to a soul when it does die? "...the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). And Adam sinned and Adam did die. He lived 930 years and he died. Now we don't like to use that term 'die' today, we like to say; "Well, so and so passed away." They were a soul, and the soul passed out of them and passed away somewhere. Well where did they pass? Do they see you today? Are they alive? Are they watching you? Do they know what you're doing? Well, notice what Jesus said. Now in the third chapter of the book of John, John the third chapter and in verse 13, and Jesus said:

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (John 3:13)

Only Christ who came from heaven has ever ascended to heaven of all human men, all human beings on the earth. No man has ascended up to heaven. Now I want to take you through a few scriptures. How do you know? I didn't know at one time, and I began to see something in the scriptures that at that time I didn't agree with. And I began to find I was wrong, and I found God was right. And you know, I had to give up what I believed. And if you'll blow the dust off your Bible and look into your Bible awhile you'll begin to find the same thing.

Now you hear people talk about going to heaven; I heard a minister say on the air before millions of people; "The Bible says, 'when we all get to heaven'." I'll give that man a thousand dollars if he'll show me where the Bible says that, because it doesn't say anything of the kind. Not anywhere in your Bible - it teaches just the opposite. What does God say? Will you agree with God? Or do you think God is wrong, and all of the people are right?

— Not In Heaven - The World Tomorrow Radio Broadcast

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    Ephesians 1:33 blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies and Ephesians 1:18/20 the hope of his calling ... in the heavenlies and Ephesians 1:22 all under his feet ... his body see the saints at Ephesus effectively (and in experience, spiritually) in Christ, above his feet, in his body - in the 'heavenlies'. I'll only accept the $10,000 in cash as I do not take cheques anymore.
    – Nigel J
    Jun 17, 2022 at 9:20
  • Fascinating. I'm surprised by how different a perspective I got on this when googling it. I didn't realise how complex this question would be.
    – quant
    Jun 17, 2022 at 11:00
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    @NigelJ, these quotations from Ephesians indicate that the blessings come from Heaven, not that people will go to Heaven. If there's any doubt, consider that the sentence is in the past tense; the blessings have already been received by people that are still here on Earth.
    – Ray Butterworth
    Jun 17, 2022 at 12:23
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    @RayButterworth I disagree. It is unbelief that does not enter into the experience which Paul describes. Faithful saints enter in. and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places Ephesians 2:6.
    – Nigel J
    Jun 17, 2022 at 19:44
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    @RayButterworth You clearly do not believe the apostle who states, quite unequivacolly, that the saints have been made to 'sit together' with Christ in heavenly places (literally 'the heavenlies'. This is entering the 'kingdom of heaven'. But I shall leave it there as I am being prompted to curtail further discussion in comment.
    – Nigel J
    Jun 17, 2022 at 20:29
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This is a loaded question assuming that there is a biblical basis for saying that people determine for themselves whether they will be saved or not. ;-)

I side with Ray Butterworth's answer that there is no biblical basis for anyone (but Jesus) going to God's Heaven.

PS. I think my 'answer' is more suited as a comment, but I don't have a high enough reputation to comment . . . sorry.

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  • My question is whether there is a basis for saying that people determine for themselves whether or not they go to heaven, I don't see how I've assumed that to be the case. The question wouldn't make sense if I did.
    – quant
    Jun 17, 2022 at 11:22
  • Welcome to Christianity SE and thank you for your contribution. When you get a chance, please take the tour to understand how the site works and how it is different than others.
    – agarza
    Jun 17, 2022 at 13:04
  • If you can expand your answer, giving reasons, that would be good. Here's a point in Ray's answer to help focus your mind on that; the loaded, wrong claim, "the reward of the saved is to go to Heaven" (in the opinion of millions of people). No wonder nobody's got the cash reward - the Bible never says that! It shows the opposite, that heaven is not a reward and that nobody can do anything to merit it. Only God can decide to gift it, out of pure grace, which is the answer to the OPs Q (if you think about it.) The One who left heaven to die for sinners opened it up to those trusting in Him
    – Anne
    Jun 17, 2022 at 15:38

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