“I think I am a pretty good person”
There is this idea that if we do great things, we’ll surely please God and make it into heaven. The scripture below contradicts that, and the apostle Paul explains that we are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
21But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.~Romans 3:21-31
We are ALL born as sinners and fall short of God’s glorious standard. There is nothing you can do on earth that justifies your goodness to God. The sad reality is a lot of “good people” will go to hell. The good news is that we have a savior in Jesus Christ. He died on the cross for our sins, so whoever believes in Him will have eternal life in heaven.
16For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
~John 3:16-17
How can I be in right standing with God?
It’s really simple, His grace is free for everyone. All you have to do is say this prayer and mean it with all your heart.
“Jesus today please come into my heart. I believe you died on the cross for my sins, and right now I repent and turn away from my sin. I accept you as Lord of my life. Amen.”
Now it’s important that you find and attend a bible believing church, so that you can grow in faith. Please visit JesusBeat.com to find your church.
