We really only need one example from Scripture to prove salvation is by faith in Christ. That example is the thief on the cross. He is a great example, he had no works of any kind only belief in Christ.
Luke 23:33-43 says:
"When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The
soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Friday, February 1, 2019
You Cannot Be Good Enough to Earn Heaven
It occurred to me this morning that so often at funerals and memorials people love to say, "he/she is in a better place now." Even those who are not Christians believe in the after life as a "better place" and all that die go there.
I am not sure why they believe in a better place when the only evidence that there is one is in the Bible along with the other place that is a monstrous place, hell.
So often people assume there is only a better place and not the place of torment that God says most people will end up.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Those who had no desire to love Christ in life will not enjoy His blessing of a home in heaven. Only those who have trusted Christ and desired to be cleansed by Him will be in heaven with Him, all other go to hell.
James 1:14-15 "…14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. "
Proverbs 11:19
"Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death."
Being a good person does not save anyone. Even a good person who does not trust Christ will go to hell because God is clear that no one is good. All good deeds done by unsaved people have an element of personal glory in them, if even they do not realize it.
Romans 3:10 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Many people believe they are good people who have rejected Christ as their Lord. The prisons are full of people who believe they are basically good. One cannot do a crime unless one has sin. One cannot become enraged unless they are already an angry person.
The only way to become born again and free of the stain of sin is for the one who is a sinner to confess their sinfulness. They must trust Christ and His cleansing blood to cover their sin in order to be changed by Him.
Anyone who will not admit their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ, will not be saved from hell.
Revelation 21:8
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
If you think you are a good person without Christ, worthy of a better place after this life, you are choosing to believe what you want that has no basis in the Bible. Your works will not save you, your words will not save you. Only trusting in Christ and desiring to be made into a new creation by Him will save you from the fires of hell.
Romans 2:6-8
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
It is common these day for people to pluck passages out of their context to avoid facing the truth in the ones they ignore. To say you believe in heaven but not hell, is to remove the passages about heaven from their context to leave out hell. If you say you believe the Bible then you must keep all its passages in context with each other and with the entire Bible.
Revelation 20:15
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Is your name written in the book of life that God keeps? It is so very easy to find your name there, just confess your sinfulness and trust Christ to cleanse and save you. After we have done that you will begin to change. The things you loved before that were sinful you will begin to hate. The things you despised before that were righteous you will begin to love. You will hate what God hates and love what He loves.
Psalm 33:5 "…4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion. "
Psalm 37:28
"For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off."
I am not sure why they believe in a better place when the only evidence that there is one is in the Bible along with the other place that is a monstrous place, hell.
So often people assume there is only a better place and not the place of torment that God says most people will end up.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Those who had no desire to love Christ in life will not enjoy His blessing of a home in heaven. Only those who have trusted Christ and desired to be cleansed by Him will be in heaven with Him, all other go to hell.
James 1:14-15 "…14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. "
Proverbs 11:19
"Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death."
Being a good person does not save anyone. Even a good person who does not trust Christ will go to hell because God is clear that no one is good. All good deeds done by unsaved people have an element of personal glory in them, if even they do not realize it.
Romans 3:10 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Many people believe they are good people who have rejected Christ as their Lord. The prisons are full of people who believe they are basically good. One cannot do a crime unless one has sin. One cannot become enraged unless they are already an angry person.
The only way to become born again and free of the stain of sin is for the one who is a sinner to confess their sinfulness. They must trust Christ and His cleansing blood to cover their sin in order to be changed by Him.
Anyone who will not admit their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ, will not be saved from hell.
Revelation 21:8
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
If you think you are a good person without Christ, worthy of a better place after this life, you are choosing to believe what you want that has no basis in the Bible. Your works will not save you, your words will not save you. Only trusting in Christ and desiring to be made into a new creation by Him will save you from the fires of hell.
Romans 2:6-8
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
It is common these day for people to pluck passages out of their context to avoid facing the truth in the ones they ignore. To say you believe in heaven but not hell, is to remove the passages about heaven from their context to leave out hell. If you say you believe the Bible then you must keep all its passages in context with each other and with the entire Bible.
Revelation 20:15
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Is your name written in the book of life that God keeps? It is so very easy to find your name there, just confess your sinfulness and trust Christ to cleanse and save you. After we have done that you will begin to change. The things you loved before that were sinful you will begin to hate. The things you despised before that were righteous you will begin to love. You will hate what God hates and love what He loves.
Psalm 33:5 "…4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion. "
Psalm 37:28
"For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off."
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