Well John,
They say the written word goes back about 6000 years so people have been pondering, mumbling, bickering, authorizing about this for at least that long. And the final answer is just as far as it was 6000 years ago. And, there is a lot of info that people take for fact that is pure fiction. At least one noted gospel type said several decades ago that the Bible doesn't promise you you will go to Heaven.

There is the Practical side of Religion that everybody pretty much agrees on and then there is the Theoretical side that the Jury is still out on. I have always done the best I can and never worry about the consquenses.

The esteemed Billy Graham tells people on one side of the coin to Accept Jesus as there Savior but on the other side of the coin tells them nothing they do will get them into Heaven. So, that begs the question, why try to do anything good, it isn't going to help you get into Heaven. Now my take is there is no such thing as being saved or no such thing as being lost. And it is amazing how people can get it all screwed up. And you will never hear anyone in a Church asking pointed questions. Those that do usually wind up leaving for another church, or starting their own. Glad to clear things up.

Ray E. Strode