Nothing Unclean Shall Enter Into Heaven

Ephesians 5:5

Only those who are found perfectly righteous, righteous according to the records of God himself, shall enter into eternal life and inherit everlasting glory with Christ. They, and only they, that have done good, nothing but good, perfect good, without any spot of sin, wrinkle of iniquity, or trace of transgression, shall enter into everlasting life. It is written, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." – (Rev 22:11)

Who are these perfectly righteous ones? Certainly, no man can claim such for himself, or for any other mortal. None of Adam’s fallen race is righteous by nature, but only sinful, utterly sinful, entirely corrupt. It is impossible for us to make ourselves righteous by anything we do or refrain from doing (Rom. 3:9-20).

Yet, there are some perfectly righteous, holy men and women, who must and shall inherit the kingdom of God. These righteous ones are the elect of God, all who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, all who are called by the Spirit, all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:1, 32-34).

God’s elect are made righteous by his free grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, without any works of their own (Rom. 3:21-26). Righteousness was imputed to us in justification, when Christ was delivered for our offenses and raised again (Rom. 4:25).

Righteousness is imparted to every believer in sanctification, when he is born again and given a new nature in Christ (1 John 1:9). Believing on the Son of God, we receive righteousness and forgiveness in the joyful experience of grace; but our believing contributes nothing to the accomplishment of these things. They are accomplished by grace, upon the grounds of Christ’s obedience unto the Father as our Substitute.

We shall be made perfectly righteous in resurrection glory, when we are completely conformed to the image of Christ. That will be the ultimate accomplishment of God’s eternal purpose of grace toward us in election and predestination (Rom. 8:28-29; Eph. 1:4-6).

            Understand this - Our everlasting acceptance with the holy Lord God is pure grace, extended and given to hell-deserving sinners upon the grounds of strict justice. Righteousness was earned, purchased and brought in for us by the life and death of the Son of God as our covenant Surety. It was given to us as a matter of grace. We did nothing to get it. We can do nothing to improve it, or diminish it, or lose it. Our righteousness Christ (1 Cor. 1:30; Jer. 23:6).

Don Fortner