Anyone who believes that there is a heaven and/or a hell has asked themselves this question because it is likely that they also believe that "good" people must go to heaven. But what is the truth? Can we be "good" enough to stand before God and enter heaven when we die?
The Bible says this: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23
That statement alone says a lot. All have done wrong, which means that no one is perfect.
Ok so if no one is perfect, what qualifies as being "good enough"?
Thankfully someone in Scripture directs this question to Jesus and this is what He says in response: "No one is good except God alone." - Luke 18:19
Wait a second...but what if I've done insert number good things in my life? God has to let me into heaven. It's not like I'm a murderer!
The problem with that kind of logic is that, in God's eyes, no sin is greater than another. For example, Jesus says this, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment" - Matthew 5:21-22
So basically if you've ever been angry with someone, you are just as bad as a murderer.
But what if my "good works" outweigh the bad things I've done? That has to count for something right?
Actually, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." - Isaiah 64:6
God sees all of our perceived "good works" as filthy rags. Why? Because of a self-righteous attitude.
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart." - Proverbs 21:2
Where is your heart at? Why do you do your good things?
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 6:1
Jesus warns us that any "good" we do with selfish motives does not earn us anything before God. Bragging to others that you give to charity to look "good" in the eyes of others earns only that, the approval of other human beings who have no power to open the gates of heaven for us. Woot.
The truth is that there is nothing we can say or do that can get us into heaven. We can never be "good" enough on our own.
We can only become righteous by an act of God. We "are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." - Romans 3:24-25 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
Until God changes our perspective so we see that we are sinners who have been offered grace and we respond by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we are not "good." It is only by God's work in and through us that we are able to do true good works because our ultimate purpose here on earth is for the glory of God and only He can make us righteous in His eyes.
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
The Bible says this: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23
That statement alone says a lot. All have done wrong, which means that no one is perfect.
Ok so if no one is perfect, what qualifies as being "good enough"?
Thankfully someone in Scripture directs this question to Jesus and this is what He says in response: "No one is good except God alone." - Luke 18:19
Wait a second...but what if I've done insert number good things in my life? God has to let me into heaven. It's not like I'm a murderer!
The problem with that kind of logic is that, in God's eyes, no sin is greater than another. For example, Jesus says this, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment" - Matthew 5:21-22
So basically if you've ever been angry with someone, you are just as bad as a murderer.
But what if my "good works" outweigh the bad things I've done? That has to count for something right?
Actually, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." - Isaiah 64:6
God sees all of our perceived "good works" as filthy rags. Why? Because of a self-righteous attitude.
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart." - Proverbs 21:2
Where is your heart at? Why do you do your good things?
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 6:1
Jesus warns us that any "good" we do with selfish motives does not earn us anything before God. Bragging to others that you give to charity to look "good" in the eyes of others earns only that, the approval of other human beings who have no power to open the gates of heaven for us. Woot.
The truth is that there is nothing we can say or do that can get us into heaven. We can never be "good" enough on our own.
We can only become righteous by an act of God. We "are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." - Romans 3:24-25 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9
Until God changes our perspective so we see that we are sinners who have been offered grace and we respond by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we are not "good." It is only by God's work in and through us that we are able to do true good works because our ultimate purpose here on earth is for the glory of God and only He can make us righteous in His eyes.
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
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