05.10.16 Do you think you’re going to Heaven because you’re a good person and do good deeds?

Monday, May 9, 2016 – Do you think you’re going to Heaven because you’re a good person and do good deeds?

I have felt for a while a burden to share in my own little words why this is not the way to salvation.

My life has been a roller coaster, like most of ours are. My one rock has been my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him I would not be able to be the person I strive to be.

I am such a sinner I am not at all deserving of what His forgiving Grace and, what His presence in my life, does for me. Yet He loves me with a love that cannot be matched. Roy and I love each other deeply. I love my children and grandchildren with all my heart. But none of them, and no other human, can provide in my life what Jesus Christ does.

Sometimes when I’m in church I think about others who are not there or in any church that day or mostly ever. I write a lot about going to church, God, Jesus Christ, and my Christian life. What I want you to know is that I do not go to church because I am expected to, or because I want to be seen there.

I go because I must, I desperately (and I need to blow that word DESPERATELY into large font!) need that in my life. I need to be reminded of what Christ did for us. I need to be sung to and preached to in a way you’ll only receive in church. I read my Bible daily and pray throughout the day each day. Being in church with other folks that I know also sin, but I know depend on the Lord to straighten their paths and to go to in bad times as well as good times, is something I wish for all of you.

When a person gives their life, heart and soul to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they become a Christian. Their life changes and from that moment on they are to be lead by God’s Grace to change anything in their life that does not bring them closer to God. Friends, even family, cursing, alcohol and drug abuse, infidelity, and how their life is lived with others and at home. Christ did good things and was a good person so it is natural for Christians to want to do good things for others and live a good life. The process a Christian goes through is called “Sanctification” which means they grow more and more like Christ over the course of their lives.

However, many people believe they are going to Heaven JUST because they are good people and they do good deeds. They are not. They are going to Hell. ONLY if they have given their life, heart and soul to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are they a Christian.

A Christians life should be filled with good deeds because it is a natural thing for Christians to do. It is not, however, what saves them.

This is as simply, and hopefully as clearly said, as I can say it. I am far from a Bible scholar but I know what Christ has done in my life and will always be happy to share that with you.

Ephesians 2:3-9 ESV ³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. ⁴ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.