How Good to You have to Be? (salvation, grace, quote)
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I've read in a number of posts that the criteria for heaven is to be a good person - it doesn't really matter what you believe. However, I'm really curious about the yardstick for this goodness. Exactly how 'good' do you have to be? Who determines whether a person is good enough? Does it take one sin or a thousand before you are disqualified?
I'm not being disingenuous, I've truly never entertained this idea before and would love to see the reasoning behind it. Thanks!
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:19
For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
No one can be 'good enough' for Heaven -- no one... good works will not get you into Heaven - we could never do enough good to earn our way there -
We do not deserve to be saved - only through Grace are we saved the sacrifice of Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin - He is the way to Heaven, one one gets to the Father except through Christ...
But once a person is saved - he should want to do good deeds, he should want to do the Lord's will in his life...
No one can be 'good enough' for Heaven -- no one... good works will not get you into Heaven - we could never do enough good to earn our way there -
We do not deserve to be saved - only through Grace are we saved the sacrifice of Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin - He is the way to Heaven, one one gets to the Father except through Christ...
But once a person is saved - he should want to do good deeds, he should want to do the Lord's will in his life...
Excellent post! I agree. If being good was enough, then Jesus would have died for nothing.
Thanks to the posters so far....however what you had to say is what I've always believed. I've never entertained the idea that just being good got you into heaven. I find that fascinating and would love to hear those who have posted this to expound on their reasons for this belief. To be honest, it confuses me.
Persons who are saved, still sin. There are no perfect people. I question if I am "good enough." Only god knows for sure. We should all try to be in the likeness of Him but there is sin everywhere, in everyone. Have you ever, smoked, drank, stolen, cheated, lied, danced, listened to rock and roll, cursed? Of course we have, are we good enough? It is only through the grace of God that we are good enough. Wait, there is no good enough, what is that? Is it perfect. No one is perfect. Striving for perfection. I don't strive for perfection, I stirve for inner peace and good will towards others.
Thanks to the posters so far....however what you had to say is what I've always believed. I've never entertained the idea that just being good got you into heaven. I find that fascinating and would love to hear those who have posted this to expound on their reasons for this belief. To be honest, it confuses me.
Ephesians 2:8-9"For by grace you have been saved though faith and that not of yourself, it is a gift of God. Not as a result of works that no one should boast".
Isaish 64:6 " We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds we find they are but filthy rags, like autumn leaves we wither and fall and our sins like the wind sweep us away".
No good deed or work can help us obtain salvation. God's intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service.
Thanks guys, but I'm still waiting to hear from those nonChristians who believe this. I know why I believe it's not true, but I would really like to hear why they base their eternity on this assumption. I'm not interested in debating them about it, I just want to hear their reasoning for their belief.
Thanks guys, but I'm still waiting to hear from those nonChristians who believe this. I know why I believe it's not true, but I would really like to hear why they base their eternity on this assumption. I'm not interested in debating them about it, I just want to hear their reasoning for their belief.
No problem....love to hear all responses. But am here to learn how others think about this subject! Have a blessed evening! BTW...I love NC, too!!
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