Are you good enough to get to Heaven? How ‘good’ is good enough?
If you can be good enough to please God, then why did God send His Son to the Cross, to die in your place?
Many people believe that doing good deeds and trying every way they can to be a good person will win the (approval) of God. Keeping the “Golden Rule,” helping their fellow man and doing their best will be good enough to go to Heaven. Why is it that so many people believe they are pleasing God and even more — that God is impressed? What does the Bible say?
Being an imperfect person, do you think that you can impress a perfect God?
Let’s begin by looking up the the word self in the dictionary. Have you ever spent time just looking at all the word definitions derived from the word self? There are three pages devoted to the derivatives of self in the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (tenth edition copyright 2002). Take a few moments and see for yourself. Notice such words as self-worship, self-centered, selfish, self-deceived and self-absorbed.
Do you think as human beings, that we might have a personal problem?
God is perfect! God’s perfect righteousness is in total contrast to our own relative righteousness. Therefore we humans are contradictory to God. For that, we can blame Adam. Therefore, we cannot be good enough to go to Heaven by our own good morals! No one has ever kept the ten Commandments, except Jesus Christ during the Incarnation … no one.
The Apostle Paul tells us unequivocally that: “there is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). See also Romans 5:1-12, and Mark 7:20-23. This is why Christ offered Himself in our place on the Cross. Christ is Righteous, we are unrighteous.
No matter how much you try to live a good life, no matter how moral you are you are not PERFECT. You can never be good enough to please God. Jesus Christ is the only person who ever lived that was perfectly righteous, that is why He could go to the Cross in your place (Romans 5:8). Being good and living a good moral life is admirable, but not enough to go to Heaven when you die. Did it ever occur to you that you have put the cart in front of the horse? Listen, after you trust the death of Christ in your place, then you begin to live the good Christian Life. Accept Christ as your personal Savior, first, then live a moral life (John 3:15-18,36; Acts 16:31, Romans 5:8).
If we see ourselves as righteous enough to please God, we are disagreeing with God. Stop right here! Look up Ephesians 2:8&9 for yourself … your eternal future depends on understanding this critical issue.
Religion is man pursuing God. Christianity is God pursuing man. Religion is anti-grace. Religion is man’s conceived notions whereby man by his own human good and merit seeks to gain approval from God. Religion is antithetical to Christianity. Christianity is a relationship with Jesus Christ by God’s Grace through faith alone in Christ alone.
Organized religion is Satanic in origin and Satan’s most successful strategy in keeping the understanding of mankind in the dark. Satan cloaks his most successful deceptions in the guise of religion.
To disagree with God is arrogance, it is pride, it is self-sufficiency. Trust Christ first, then live a good life with the help of the Holy Spirit. Again, Christ took your place on the Cross so you could go to Heaven. When you trust Jesus Christ, God the Father gives you the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truths and help you live a good moral life. SO AGAIN, get saved first! You must be born-again (John 3:3; 3:5; 3:7). You must become a child of God (John 1:12). Look up these verses.
Listen, even the devil believes in God. So saying “Yeah, I believe in God” does nothing for your salvation. “Believing in God” will not save you or get you to Heaven. Only faith in Jesus Christ who died for you will save you and get you into Heaven, this is why Christ came … to provide your ticket to Heaven … all you have to do is trust Christ. Once you have made the decision to trust the death of Christ in your place, you are saved and Heaven will be your home. NOW, DO YOUR BEST TO PLEASE THE LORD. (Acts 16:31). You need to understand that no one can stop sinning. Sooner or later you’re going to mess up.
It is precisely why the Lord has provided a solution for whenever we disobey the Lord or even deliberately sin. When you disobey, when you sin, confess it to the Lord. Look up 1 John 1:9 and use it whenever you mess up. Nothing can separate you from God ‘s love and forgiveness (Romans 8:38 & 39).
If you have received Christ as your personal Savior, go to Church this Sunday. Tell the Pastor you just got saved and need help and you want to learn all about your Savior, Jesus Christ.
God Bless you.
Happy Studying!