The Scriptures tell us that we cannot be saved by our own merit, our own righteousness, or personal works (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:3). To be in a saved state, we must be “in Christ” where all spiritual blessings reside (Gal. 3:26-27; Ephesians 1:3). As an example, when the following morally good individuals obeyed from the heart the saving gospel of Christ (Romans 6:17; Romans 1:16), they were in a saved state “in Christ” (Romans 8:1). We know from the biblical record regarding Cornelius (Acts 10), that even though he was a good moral man, he was lost until he obediently responded to the saving gospel message that Peter preached (Acts 10:44-48). You may be good. You may be moral. You may even be the nicest person you know, BUT, have you responded to the saving gospel message? Are you IN Christ?
The Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8:26-40 was a worshipper of God (Acts 8:27), a reader of the Scriptures (Acts 8:30), and a trusted treasurer of the queen, yet he was lost until he was obedient to the saving gospel preached by Philip (Acts 8:35-39). You may go to church each week. You may occasionally read the Bible. You may even be the treasurer of your church, BUT, have you responded to the saving gospel message? Are you IN Christ?
Saul of Tarsus was a very zealous and religious man, thinking that he was doing right (Acts 26:9), yet he was lost until he was obedient to the Lord’s will contained in the gospel (Matthew 7:21; Acts 9:1-18). You may faithfully attend church, sing in the choir, volunteer for every overseas mission, BUT, have you responded to the saving gospel message? Are you IN Christ?
You may be a person that is more secular, never attending church a day in your life! You may be a church unto yourself. Maybe you are of the notion to "live and let live" thus avoiding a judgmental spirit. Perhaps you give your free time to humanitarian organizations and believe that type of charity equates with salvation. BUT, have you responded to the saving gospel message? But have ave you invited Christ into your life? Are you IN Christ?
Remember, it's not what you DO or have done on this earth that saves you from hell, it's what you DON'T DO! Here's why.
If we depend upon our morality alone, our goodness or perceived self-righteousness to be saved, we bypass the redeeming blood of Christ — the blood (and the only way) through which our sins are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). When we willingly obey the commands of the saving gospel of Christ (John 8:24; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 4:15; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4), we are then “in Christ” and the Lord adds us to His BODY- "the Church" (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47), the church that is comprised of the saved (Ephesians 5:23).
The answer to the question, 'if I am a good person will it be enough to save me on judgment day' is a definite “no” according to the inspired Scriptures "for ALL have sinned and FALLEN SHORT of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). If we all have sinned, sin cannot enter or reside in heaven. Therefore, we cannot enter in because our own merits do not erase sins. Many people DO good things, admirable things, and actions worthy of man's praise. What they DON'T DO is truly commit their lives to Christ in the way the Bible teaches and is required to be saved! Jesus Himself specifically told us John 3:5 NKJV "Most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Observe the exact words of Jesus here. He used the words MOST ASSUREDLY. That leaves no doubt He was not only serious but unquestionably, beyond a shadow of a doubt, telling us the bare, basic truth of how to be saved. Which is:
1. BELIEVE JESUS IS THE ONE WHO SAVES.
John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name
2. BE HONEST ENOUGH TO ADMIT YOU'VE SINNED AND CONFESS IT. BE SORRY. THAT'S REPENTANCE.
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
3. BE RENEWED IN YOUR MIND BY HIS WORD IT IS THE LIVING WATER- READ IT!! BE IMMERSED IN IT.
1 Peter 1:23 - Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
4. TURN FROM YOUR SIN. REFUSE TO GO BACK AND BE ENTANGLED AGAIN.
Romans 6:6 - Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin any longer.
5. HE LOVES YOU AND WILL SAVE YOU. ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND TO HELP YOU LIVE AS HE WANTS.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
6. YOU WILL BECOME A NEW PERSON WITH A CLEAN SLATE, A SPIRIT BORN MEMBER OF HIS CHURCH
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The Word of God is powerful! It has the power to renew the mind. It cleanses your thinking which in turn changes your actions. The Word of God baptizes you because it is the Living Water that teaches you, guides you, and changes you from a man of sin into a new creature of righteousness powered by the Holy Spirit which comes to live in you after you believe and respond. It's the simplicity of being born of water and of the Spirit! If you have any questions feel free to contact me at MarioJaxxMom@gmail
Until next time,
-Pat-
years ago, i honestly thought being good was my ticket to heaven. i knew getting drunk on occasion and sleeping with women was not right, although i also didn't believe they were qualifiers for hell. I considered myself a pretty nice guy, I helped people, gave money to charities, and didn't have any damnable sins added to my resume like murder or rape. no one is perfect so i thought my record of goodness and kindness made me a shoe-in for heaven. then, i learned through bible study that being good did not erase what sins i had already committed. how could being nice to people negate fornication? and how could i ever remove that mistake from my life and right my soul? only through the blood of jesus! by accepting his sacrifice for me, freeing me of all past sins and giving me a fresh start with the knowledge to live as he wants and with his help to strengthen me to turn from sin. yet, with his mercy to forgive me if i fail. the point is to trust jesus, follow the rules, depend on him and him alone, and walk in his ways. if you fall short he'll be there to pick you up and you keep going, improving little by little until it's no longer hard or difficult to want to do the right thing. this was a great blog, pat. thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly were not (and are not) alone, Dan. I think the consensus among people is: just live a good life, be nice, don't commit any major sins like those that can put you in prison, and everything will be fine. The problem with that thinking is, scripture plainly points out we are BORN INTO SIN. How? We lost our heavenly, sinless, righteous, innocent, pureness the moment Adam and Eve chose their will over God's will. They fell from a spiritual state to a carnal state. And with carnality comes the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. And it was passed on thereafter to every human born from our first human parents. It's not like they weren't warned. Proverbs tell us "Pride goes before a fall." How true that was in the garden. Pride only serves self. Adam and Eve chose what they wanted and rejected what God commanded. It's still happening among the human race today. We are carnal creatures now and we want what is pleasing to the flesh, rejecting the spirit. Until I heard the gospel, believed, turned, and walked IN CHRIST, I too served me!
DeleteSo well explained, Pat! It is a simple message, really! The Gospel of Love from our heavenly Father through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of the living God! You wonder how people turn it down. Morality is relative in these times; good is considered evil and evil good in some situations! To really be "moral" you must believe there is a creator of morality...who is that, who determines that? Ahtiests or Agnostics can be good people, moral people but who determines their morality if they don't believe in God? There has to be a baseline and nowadays people don't believe in the creator of the baseline, they want to create their own. This is why our world is in such chaos!
ReplyDeleteThe Creator of the heavens, the moon and stars has given mankind a plan to find our way back to Him and it is so easy to do. I thank Him that 43 years ago, I heard the message that Pat talks about and knew immediately that I wanted and needed this relationship! I have never looked back!
I concur with Dan, great blog!!
Diane, your comment brought this scripture to my mind:Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe the Word of God is living, staying relevant to each generation as we apply it to today. Indeed, it is sharper than any two-edged sword. So, when I come upon a verse such as Isaiah 5:20 at a certain time, it cuts through all the rhetoric, all the arguments, all the politics, all the religious talk and “Christian-ese” and gets to the heart of the issue. This is a verse for such a time as this. For months, I and millions of others have been witness to this scripture being lived out in churches and on the national stage. It does not matter whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, pro-life, straight or gay, believer or atheist – this comes down to basic values and crosses party and denominational lines. I have seen what is good called evil and what is evil called good. The idea of people creating their own baseline as you said goes along with my comment to Dan. People want their will over Gods will. CARNALITY! And the more people serve the flesh, the greater the chaos. Look over the last 25 years. Look how sin and immorality have increased. The world needs a relationship with their Savior more than ever!