The popular radio news commentator Paul Harvey announced that an automobile with Tennessee plates was sporting a bumper sticker that read "only volunteers get to Heaven". Because of the fact that Tennessee is known as the volunteer state, one might overlook the Biblical truth of this statement.

Such terminology as "Do I have to" in matters pertaining to baptism in the forgiveness of sins, attendance in worship to God, morality, and giving are a common occurrence.

The Biblical answer to such an attitude is "no". Every right response to God is VOLUNTARY.

BAPTISM IN FORGIVENESS OF SINS: (Acts 2:37-47) v. 37 "What shall we do?"; v. 38 "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. . . " v.40 "save yourselves"; v. 41 "Then they that gladly received his words were baptized. . . "; v. 47 "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

ATTENDANCE IN WORSHIP: (Heb. 10:21-29) v. 21 "And having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed in pure water. . . " v 25 "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. . . "

MORALITY: (Col. 3:1-17) v. 1 "If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above. . ."; v. 17 "and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."

GIVING: (II Cor. 9:7-15) v. 7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. . . ." v.15 "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift."

God gave His Son voluntarily (Gen. 3:15). Jesus came to earth and gave up His life voluntarily, (Heb. 10:9; John 10:18). His servants obey His will voluntarily, (Matt. 11:28-30; Mk. 16:16; Rev. 2:10).

Remember, you don't have to go to Heaven, you get to. Because "only volunteers get to Heaven" (Rev. 22:14).
Steven K. Guy