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Am I Good Enough for Heaven?
Many people believe that if their good outweighs their bad, God overlooks the bad and allows them into heaven. That belief implies that some are worthy and others are not. Say for example, Mother Teresa is worthy and Hitler is not. What does the Bible say?
First, the Bible says no one is worthy.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 1 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 2 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 3
Second, the Bible says that all works in the flesh are like filthy rags to God.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 4
Third, the Bible says that the penalty for the "bad" (without regard to the "good") is death - separation from God.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 5
No, you are not good enough for heaven. The Bible clearly states that. So where does the confusion lie? Much of the confusion lies with how works fit in with faith.
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 6
People have incorrectly used these verses to say that both faith in Jesus and good works are needed for salvation. The Apostle James wrote those verses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Earlier in the same epistle he wrote:
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 7
James is saying that faith in Christ will produce good works. For example, if someone plants an apple seed, an apple tree will grow and produce applies. Someone can see an apple and conclude that it came from an apple tree. Now, the applies did not produce the apple tree; the apple tree produced the applies. Likewise, "good works" do not produce salvation; salvation produces "good works". Jesus said you could tell a tree by its fruit.
[Jesus said], Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 8
A born-again believer will produce fruit ("good works"). The point James is making is that someone who does not produce fruit of salvation is not saved - their faith is dead, no good. A person that claims to be born-again and is not a "doer of the word" is deceiving oneself.
Are you saved? Do your works for God bear witness to your salvation? Or are you working for God to "earn" a place in heaven? Remember, your works without Christ "earn" you death. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. You cannot offer God anything more precious than accepting the blood of Jesus Christ.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. 9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10
Gain a full understanding of why you need Jesus.
Read about the crucifixion and why Jesus died.
