Frequently Asked Questions on Living and Growing Spiritually
Q. Is there any way for a person to know for sure that he or she will go to heaven?
A. We can get a sense that we are on the path to heaven when we are doing what is right. It is difficult to go to hell. In order to do so, one has to 1) deny God, and 2) pervert or falsify the Truth (Word) at every opportunity. It is easier to live the life of heaven than many believe. The Lord created us for heaven. It is necessary that when anything we know to be unjust or dishonest presents itself we turn away from it, not participate in it, and say: "I will not do that, because it is opposed to the Lord’s Commandments." By establishing this habit, it is easier and easier to deal with temptations.
Q. Does God participate in my spiritual growth or do I have to do it alone?
A. The Lord God Jesus Christ is the only one who can make us new. It is truly a miracle of mercy that He performs in our lives daily. Yet, it is essential that we work on our spiritual growth as if our behavior makes a difference. "You can therefore reform and regenerate yourself as if of yourself, so long as you acknowledge in your heart that this comes from the Lord... It is true that you cannot from yourself contribute anything, not in the slightest, to that process. Yet you have not been created statues; you were created human beings, so that you could do it from the Lord as if of yourselves... In short, act from yourselves and believe that it is from the Lord; that is how to act as if of yourselves" (True Christianity 621).
Q. Is a belief in One God necessary to go to heaven?
A. When we talk about "belief," we are talking about something done not merely with our minds or our mouths, but also (and more particularly) through the actions of our lives. In True Christianity for instance, it says, "To believe in Him is to have confidence that He saves; and because only those who live good lives can have such confidence, this too is meant by believing in Him" (True Christianity 2)
Q. How can I commit the time and energy for spiritual growth in my busy daily life?
A. It is easy to get caught up in the business of living. Between jobs, families, and community obligations, it can be difficult to create a space to reconnect with God and work on your spiritual growth. Try carving out time to read the Word when you first wake up, on a lunch break, or before you go to bed. After reflecting on God’s message for your life, make yourself a note and keep it in your pocket to remind you through the day and week of what to work on.
Q. How does one repent?
A. With guidance from the Lord (given in His Word) individuals have the opportunity and responsibility to identify what is evil in their life and then to remove it to create a space for what is good. The steps of repentance, that lead to regeneration or spiritual growth are: 1) examining oneself, 2) recognizing one’s sins or evils, 3) asking for the Lord’s help, and 4) so beginning a new life of resisting that evil and doing what is good.
Q. What is regeneration?
A. Regeneration is the process of being spiritually reborn by learning and living the truths of faith. This process continues to eternity. It is written that "Regeneration progresses analogously to the way we are conceived, carried in the womb, born, and brought up. The first phase in our being generated anew is called "reformation"; it has to do with our intellect. The second phase is called "regeneration"; it has to do with our will and then our intellect" (True Christianity 302).