For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The verse above is taught to mean that every one who “accepts Christ” will go to Heaven when they die. Do you see the term “Heaven” in the passage?
Why are we teaching that which the Bible does not teach?
It was not Heaven that was lost in the Garden of Eden. It was immortality that was lost. John 3:16 is stating that if we place our faith in Christ, turning away from the world and following the Lord each day of our life, we will gain that which was lost by Adam and Eve. We will gain an imperishable body.
It has nothing to do with living forever in Heaven, although our imperishable body will come from Heaven with the Lord Jesus.
The goal of the Christian conflict is to gain an imperishable body. If you will notice, the goal of the Apostle Paul was the resurrection. He was not referring to going to Heaven but to the renewing of his sin-prone body.
I believe we should return to the Bible and find out what the Christian redemption is all about.
