“Can we get to heaven by keeping God’s Commandments?”

March 2016 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: Please explain Ecclesiastes 12:13. Does this mean that we can get to heaven by keeping God’s commandments?

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” –Ecclesiastes 12:13 5NKJV

ANSWER:Shortly after King David’s death his son and successor, Solomon, sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar at Gibeah. The Lord appeared to him in a dream that night and asked, “What shall I give you?” Solomon responded by requesting an understanding heart to judge God’s people. God replied, “I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” God also promised him great riches and honor, that Solomon would be the greatest king of his day. We read this account in 1 Kings 3:4-15 and 2 Chronicles 1:3-12.

Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, giving us the results of his research and reasoning about life “under the sun,” that is, on earth. He was able to afford whatever he wanted; and he wrote about the many things he tried and the conclusions he reached. The book expresses its author’s philosophy and shows his disappointment with the many things he tried. Solomon concluded, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” In the final two chapters he gave some exhortations based on his experiences.

Our verse above is the last of these exhortations. Earthly things – successes, pleasures, material possessions, fame or whatever they be – are meaningless and give no lasting satisfaction. There is something more. Man has a Creator and he will face Him some day. God had given commandments, and to fear God and do what He commands is ultimately the best thing for man to do.

Ecclesiastes speaks about life on earth. It does not present the gospel nor speak about heaven. For man to have a happy life on earth he must fear God and submit to His commands. The wisest man on earth gave us this thought. The subject of his book is not how to reach heaven, but how to live on earth.

Apart from the Lord Jesus, no man or woman has ever kept God’s commandments – nor can they keep the commandments of God. James 2:10 tells us that “whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” God’s Word makes it plain: Not one of us can reach heaven by keeping the law. The law is holy and just and good (Rom. 7:12), but each one of us is a sinner by nature and by practice. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (3:23).

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3). God has accepted what He has done, raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in heaven (Eph. 1:20). He offers salvation freely to all who will receive His Son as Savior and Lord. This is the only way of salvation taught in God’s Word, the Bible.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.