There are people who have developed the notion that so long as they pray and invoke the name of the Lord, they will already be saved. That is not true; they are just giving themselves false hope. 

The truth is — even if you keep on praying, even if you keep on calling on the name of the Lord, you will not be saved if you are not fulfilling His will. 

As it is written in Matthew 7:21 (KJV), 


To enter into the kingdom of heaven, you have to do the will of the Father; that is, you have to keep His commandments and you have to do what the Father wants you to do. 

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV) says, 


The foremost duty of man is to obey God’s commandments and not the commandments and teachings of different religious groups such as the Catholic Church. If what you will follow are their invented teachings, like praying the rosary for nine consecutive days or the novena, walking on your knees at the aisles of cathedrals from the doorway to the altar, and kneeling before graven images and statues and worshiping them, you will not be saved. All these practices, which the Catholics observe, fall under idolatry and are in direct contrast with the teachings of God in the Bible. And definitely, such practices will not bring you to heaven. 

Remember, for you to be saved and become an heir of heaven, you have to obey God’s commandments — not defy them. Idolatry is an outright defiance of God’s commandment; statues and graven images should not be made objects of worship, even if they happen to be made of gold and silver. 

Acts 17:29 (KJV) says, 


Just to think or presume that the Godhead can be represented in graven images and statues made of gold, silver, and stone is very wrong. It becomes much worse if you are going to kneel before them, offer flowers and light candles for them, and pray to them. Unfortunately, those are exactly what Catholic priests are teaching their followers to do — they are advocating the practice of idolatry. 

Idolatry is prohibited by God. However, His prohibition is not limited to worshiping graven images; it includes the carving of statues and graven images. Such is also an act of defiance to God’s commandments. 

As it is written in Deuteronomy 5:8-9 (KJV), 


It is God whom you should worship and not false gods. Apparently, worshiping and revering false gods are manifestations of hatred to God. So if you profess that you love God, it is unto Him that you should render your worship, reverence, and devotion — not to graven images. 

Yet, what God prohibits people from doing are what the Catholic priests are zealously promoting. In effect, they are making themselves instruments in changing the truth of God into a lie as they teach people to worship the creature instead of the Creator. 

Romans 1:25 (KJV) says, 


Thus, instead of redirecting your faith and devotion to your fellow creation of God, like Mary, the apostles, and the angels, it is unto the Creator that you should render them. And instead of addressing your prayers to these individuals, you should address them unto the Creator.  

Bear in mind, however, that not all those who call upon the name of the Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who abide by God’s commandments. In other words, it is your obedience to God’s teachings and commandments that will qualify you to enter the kingdom of heaven.