Many people outside Christianity are trusting that they are going to heaven because they have been a good person. Many people inside churches seeking to be good enough for God are also under the belief that good works will get them into heaven. The Bible could not be more clear about this. No one is going into heaven because they are good enough – No Not One (Romans 3:10-11). Over half of all church goers think they are going to heaven because they are good enough.
The Bible teaches us that only one person is good and that person is God. All others fall short – all others are not good in that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard for goodness. So can we become good? Can we find acceptance by God? Thankfully yes through faith in the goodness of Jesus Christ. We are justified (declared good) not because of any righteous things we have done but by what Christ has done for us. It’s not what we have done for God, it is what God has done for us. Our righteousness is a gift to be received by faith not a reward achieved by good works. By faith in Christ, we receive His righteousness and in return He takes our sin – that’s how we become good. We exchange our ungoodness for his goodness through believing that He died for our sins and offered forgiveness in exchange for our sins.
He who knew no sin (He is good) became sin (took our sins) so that through faith in Him (believing He died for our sins) we might become the righteousness of God (receive the gift of goodness). 2 Corinthians 5:21.
In his message, “Being Good Isn’t Good Enough”, Pastor Gary Hamrick points to a survey that reveals that 82% of all people who believe in heaven and hell think they are going to heaven. Unfortunately, many of them are not really sure how that is going to happen. Jesus said that the way to eternal life was narrow and that the way to hell was broad. Since we are talking about eternity (an infinite life that will never end), is there anything more important than knowing that you are going to heaven?
Notice in the message that Jesus loves us even though we all sin. Jesus wants us all to find pardon for sin. In our worst condition, God is much more interested in forgiving us than shaming us. God wants to make us good. Please listen to Gary’s message (only 36 minutes) it could change your life forever.
