If you were to stand before God today and He should ask you, "Why should I let you into Heaven?"

As I understand Christianity, isn't the whole point that humans aren't worthy, and can't save themselves? That it's only through God's mercy that people are saved? According to that theology, there is nothing one could say to God that would merit admission into Heaven, other than, "You shouldn't, but if you do, it's pure mercy."

I would say, Dear Lord, because I am your daughter and part of my life on earth was spent in pain and anguish. I would just like to have peace in heaven and praise you with the Angels til the end of time.

I would answer,.... My Lord you took my place on the cross, you were found guilty in my place.....and you gave me a new garment, to enter in.

Thank you to all for responding to my question. I am encouraged by what I've read. Maddie...in response to your questions: yes indeed humans are unworthy and cannot save themselves. It is only through God's mercy and your believing in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son that a person is allowed into Heaven. Do you believe this?

I would say Lord, I received your Son as my Savior. I tried my best to live for Him. I asked Jesus into my life and He helped me gain wisdom and salvation.

Jesus took on my sins

I can only be aloowed into heaven through your grace and nothing that i have done or said. God's grace is the only way into and through the Gates of Heaven. That does not give you liscence to sin and do nothing that furthers God's kingdom. But It is also just through God Grace that any of us are here to begin with!

Rev Will

I woulld be so humbled before Him, that I wouldn't be able to speak...

And when I do speak, everything I say will be a reason for Him not to let me in....And yet, I will enter by The Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.....

I think the idea behind the question was "what if." It's a hypothetical question. That question is asked by everyone really. I have heard almost every pastor in the world ask, "do you know where you are going...heaven or hell. And if you don't here is what you need to do."

Maybe the better question might be is your name written in the Book of Life, but it is really the same question being asked here...just in a different way.

I don't think this irrelevant at all. And no, we may not ever be asked that question, but I think it was a good question because it makes people look at themselves. Then they can ask the bigger question: Am I living for God?

Good job Born Again!

My answer would be - why shouldn't you? I believe I've led a decent life, but I had my faults, just like every human.

I read a story recently about a man who dies, finds himself on the side of a road, and his old dog who'd died years earlier runs up to him. Happy to see the dog, the man and the dog set off down the road and come to large fancy gates. The man is greeted and told he can come in, but the dog cannot. Not happy with this idea, he and the dog continue down the road, to find it ends in a large field, with a farm in the distance. Man and dog walk up to the farm and a man sitting under a tree greets him, telling him he can get water from the pump. A bowl sits under the pump, a cup on the hook, so man and dog both get a drink then go back to the man under the tree.

The man asks - what is this place? "At heaven, they wouldn't let my dog in." The man under the tree tells him, "That's not heaven, it's hell.And if you;d chosen to leave your dog behind, that's where you'd deserve to be. Welcome to heaven."

That's in line with my view on it - my character is judged, the kind of person I am, and have been, so the question would never need to be asked.

And my dogs will be there to greet me.

I'll tell him to let me in not because I believed in him, but because I did real helpful things and real acts of kindness like feeding the hungry and help give shelter to the poor, you know, not just preaching about it=)

"Because I didn't lie, I didn't kill anybody, I didn't rape anyone, I didn't break any promise, I didn't conceal the truth, I didn't misguide people, I didn't steal anything, I didn't enjoy my wealth alone, I didn't hurt anyone's feelings, I didn't take revenge, I didn't annoy animals, I didn't compare my God with anything/anyone, but-

I tried my best to follow the commands of God in my life, I preached my children the lesson of morality, I made my wife the best companion, I respected my parents most, I gave charity to the poor, I was always ready to help needy people even if it costs me my life, I spent my time in gathering knowledge, I loved everyone, I forgave my enemies ".

I think the above response after being varified and approved by God, He should immediately instruct the angels of heaven to open the door of it for me.