The reality of our situation as humans
or, you are not good enough to earn your way to salvation (and neither am I)
Can you remember a time when someone admitted to you they were not a good person?
I mean, it’s possible you’ve heard it from someone, but it’s not common.
Most everyone will tell you they’re a good person. If we’re measuring our goodness by the arbitrary standards we’ve set for ourselves, this would likely be accurate enough.
But, what about the not so good things we’ve done? Like lying, lusting, or stealing? If we’re honest, we know we’re guilty of these. We excuse them as minor infractions and minimize them as unimportant.
It’s likely that by most human standards you would qualify as a good person.
I’m not suggesting that you’re perfect, but you’re probably a decent human being.
But what would God think of you, or me, or anyone else?
I’m guessing that you would agree that living up to God’s standard is more important than being thought well of by men. The problem here is; as God is absolutely perfect, and as he exists in perfect holiness, his will not abide sin.
We’ve all heard it said that people are generally good but some bad eggs ruin it for the rest of us. If we’re mostly good people, why is our culture, and the world, so broken?
If you’re reading this, it’s likely because someone shared a link with you. You might be wondering what this is all about.
First, I’d say whomever shared this with you cares a great deal for you. Discussions of this sort can be very uncomfortable and can get heated. My guess is that they’ve been wanting to share something like this with you but have been at a loss on how to approach it.
I’ve lost friends over these discussions and the sharing of these things. Not by my choice. I wouldn’t end a friendship over religious (or political) differences.
Some who read this will be curious to learn more. Others will have heard this message before. Perhaps they have close friends or family members who share these beliefs and have had discussions about this. Some will have never heard anything like this. Some, even, who grew up going to church regularly will be unfamiliar with this as I was. Whatever the case is with you I would ask you to see this with fresh eyes and listen with open ears.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
– 1 John 1:8
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
– James 2:10
You can’t earn your way into God’s good graces
It’s a common belief that God’s law was given to us so that we would know how to be good and that by being good we will please God, and ultimately enter His kingdom, and live in his presence for eternity. But God’s word tells us that His law was given so that we would know that we are held accountable, not that we could earn our way into His favor but that we would be conscious of our sin.
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
– Rom 3:19-20
What hope then, do we have?
If God’s standard is perfection, and we know, both by God’s word and the witness of our own lives, that we fail to live up to that standard, what hope do we have? We are, all of us, condemned by our sin and unbelief. Wholly unworthy to enter into His presence in His kingdom. Left to our own devices and relying on our own goodness based on human standards we all fall miserably short of the mark.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
– Romans 3:23
“There is no one righteous, not even one.”
– Romans 3:1
Jesus Christ made a way and is the only way to salvation
Thankfully the Creator of all there is, is a God of love and a God of mercy. In His love and mercy He has made a way for us to enjoy fellowship with Him. Jesus Christ, The Son of God and second person of the triune Godhead, came incarnate as man, lived the perfect life we are unable to live, and received God’s (the Father’s) wrath for our sin. He paid our sin debt in whole and by His sacrifice offers us salvation, as a free gift, in His name.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
– John 3:16—18
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
– Ephesians 2:1-9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
– 1 John 1:9
The decision is ours to make
God loves us and desires that we love Him as well. He has blessed us all with so many good things, but nothing greater than His gift of salvation. As love can only ever be a choice and not compelled, He has given us free will to receive Him and His gift, or to reject Him and His salvation. The choice is yours and there is no more important decision anybody will ever make. Who do you say God is and what will you do with His offer of salvation? If you are relying on your own goodness, you will receive God’s judgement for your sins. Every evil thought or action, every sinful, ungodly word you’ve spoken leaves you condemned as you will be deemed imperfect and therefore unworthy to enter into His presence.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
– Matthew 7:13-14 (words of Jesus from the Beatitudes)
There are only two choices:
- Receive Jesus’ promise and gift and be saved and spend eternity in His holy presence.
- Reject Jesus and refuse His gift of salvation and spend eternity separated from Him.
Know that the content of this comes to you from a place of love for you. I hate the idea that you would reject His offer and spend eternity separated from Him. Please think and pray about what I’ve done my best to communicate here. Know that I have been praying, and will continue to pray for you.