Can Just Being Good Get You To Heaven?
By: P. T. McClure
Have you ever heard the term, “the good old boys back home?’ Just about 80% of North America classify themselves as a ‘Good person”. They would say, “I don’t do anything really bad.” “I do the best I can, I treat my family and neighbors good, Fin even a member of a church and go when I have the time. ” The bottom line is that people think that being good somehow obligates God to ignore their sin and give them a free ticket to heaven, no matter what the bible says. Please be assured that just being good will not get you, nor anyone else into heaven.
What was necessary for people in the first century to go to heaven, is still necessary today. Every prophet and apostle preached Repentance from sin. Which means to change your mind, turn from, turn around, abstain from sin.
Some think that God will ignore their sins and let them slip by without repentance, but this is far from the truth. ‘And the time of this ignorance God winked at. but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30. God declared in Isaiah 59:2 that your sins and iniquities separated you from God, and that this was the reason why God manifested Himself in flesh (John 1:14) to reconcile, or bring you back to Himself (11 Cor. 5:19).
“You see, not just yourself, but everyone was borned in sin (Psalms 51:5). “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. “Rom. 3:23. Some say, “I haven’t killed anyone or done some evil thing. I may smoke, drink or have a few bad habits, but no one is perfect and surely that wouldn’t keep me out of heaven.” But the Bible declares “ALL unrightousness is sin.’ I John 5:17. You say, “Well, in that case, there are only a few people going to heaven from this generation.” “Enter ye in at the straitgate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and MANY there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it. ” Matt. 7:13-14.
People try to justify their sins by comparing themselves with those around them, saying, “They’re no better than I am.” God considers this kind of thinking foolish: “… comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” II Cor. 10:12. Jesus even dealt with this kind of “Self Justification” in His day. ‘Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. “Luke 16:15. Have you ever heard someone say? “Well at least I’m not as bad as so and so.” Jesus met up with a few that thought this. His reply was: “Except YE repent ye shall all likewise perish. “Luke 13:3. JUST BEING GOOD will never get you into heaven.
Some people think as long as they believe in God, that somehow givesthem a “saved status” and merits them a ticket to heaven. If this wasthe case, then the devils are saved. “Thou believest in One God, tho doest well, the devils ALSO believe and tremble.” James 2:19)
There is no one who would assume the devil is saved just because hebelieves in God. The issue is the how and what of believing. Jesus said: “He that BELIEVETH on me as the scripture hath said, out of his (spirit) shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38. One must believe in Jesus according to the dictates of the Bible, not a mere mental assent. Paul asked: “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” (Acts 19:2). Jesus said: “He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved. ” (Mark 16:16).
I can think of no greater example in all the Bible that destroys the FALSE idea that “just being good” will get someone into heaven than in Acts the 10th chapter. Cornelius was a devout man, feared God, gave a lot of money to charitable and social needs, and prayed always. (Acts 10:2). But still, after doing all of this he was still lost and on his way to hell (Acts 10:6; 11:14).
Just as Cornelius did, you too must Repent, and be baptized in Jesus’ Name and receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10:44-48).
Most people today believe that their good deeds somehow merits them salvation. However, the Bible declares: “But we are all as unclean thing, and all our rightousness are as filthy rags” (Is. 64:6) ‘As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. ” (Rom. 3:10). Many argue; “Everyone has to do what is right in his own heart, what is right for one may not be right for another.” The sad thing to the above common idea is: “There is a way which seemeth right with a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. ” (Prov. 14:12).
Believe it, friend, JUST BEING GOOD WON’T GET YOU INTO HEAVEN.Read what every good person has to do in order to go to Heaven: John 7:37-39; Acts 2:37-39, 8:5-16, 19:1-6.
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THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY PASTOR P.T. McCLURE. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYWRITED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY AND RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
