Occasionally I hear someone say something like "I don't think that anyone needs to go to church or to believe in Jesus as long as they are a good person and believe in God." The implication is that one's eternal destiny can be secured by a general belief in a divine authority and by right behavior; being a moral and ethical person, helping others, maybe even observing at least some, if not all of the Ten Commandments. In and of themselves these are all good traits worthy of our attention but according to the Bible they have no inherent value for securing one's eternal destiny.
In Mark 10:17-22 a wealthy young man confronts Jesus with the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"; in other words, to secure my eternal destiny. He goes on to explain to Jesus that all his life he has been a good person, observing the Ten Commandments. Jesus says that's all great but it's not enough. If this young man wants to be sure of eternal life, a secure eternal destiny, Jesus tells him that he must be willing to transfer all the trust he has placed in his wealth to Jesus and let Jesus lead his life.
The down side of the story is that the young man walked away sad without the eternal hope he was seeking. He was unwilling to put the full weight of his faith in anything but himself, his wealth and his own capacity to be a good person.
1 John 5:11-12 says "This is the testimony. God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. Those who have the Son have eternal life; those who do not have the Son do not have life." Dear friend, don't let being good keep you out of heaven. Place your faith in Jesus and let him lead you.
2 comments:
I have encontered many people who say they have faith in our Lord but won't lift a hand to help the needy or the poor. Is this true faith? Faith without works?? This to me is not saving faith how can you have faith but no works?? I would think it would have to be both ways to be truly saved.
Thanks for your comment, Anonymous. Eph 2:8-9 says we are "saved by grace through faith. . .not by works" and "created for good works" (Eph 2:10). Faith in what or whom? According to Rom 10:9, the answer is faith in Jesus. James 2:18 tells us that our works are evidence of our faith. Based on these passages, I would say that you are right; evidence of saving faith in Jesus is a regenerate spirit that serves as He did, sacrificially. That is "Why Good is Not Good Enough".
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