Ephesians 2:5 KJV
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Some people have the belief that they do not need to accept Jesus in their life, because they live as good of a life as believers do.
They say they abide by the ten commandments and live an upright life and that should be enough to please God.
Others have the belief that they are beyond repair and Jesus is out of their reach. They feel that their sins are too great for God’s mercy.
Both of these groups of people are dead wrong. And should they die in this state, they will be eternally separated from God in torment.
Too Good?
We all know folks who say or have said that “they are just as good, or better” than those who say they are Christians.
They live good and decent lives and from all appearances live by the commandments that Christ said were the most important.
But they lack one thing. And that one thing will keep them eternally separated from Christ.
To argue that just being a good person, living a decent life, being helpful to those in need and treating others as you want to be treated is all well and good. And expected of a believer in Christ.
But these good traits are insufficient on their own.
This attitude or trust in being good is a statement or position that the death of Christ was of no value and we can do it all on our own.
And rejecting Christ is the only sin that God cannot forgive.
There is only one way to be reconciled with God, becoming a child of God and earning an eternal home with Him.
And that is by believing in Jesus, repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus as your personal savior. There isn’t a work-around way, by simply being good or as good as the believers you know.
John 3:16 says it so clearly.
John 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Too Bad?
On the other hand, we know or have heard of folks who say their lives have been too bad, too filled with sin, for them to be saved or experience the new birth.
Their life has been filled with anger, alcohol, drugs, crime and more.
They might have lived their life making fun of believers and rejecting the message of Christ dying on the cross for their sins.
They may have even professed to be an atheist with a total disbelief of God and Christ.
They may have been guilty of mocking Christ in wholly blasphemous ways.
But again, ALL have sinned and there is no sin too great for God to forgive, except the sin of rejecting Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24 KJV
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Let’s briefly take a look at the life of the Apostle Paul as an example of the gift of grace which God provides.
Galatians 1:11-14 KJV
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
1 Timothy 1:12-15 KJV
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Acts 22:19-20 KJV
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
As you can see in these verses, Paul’s life was filled with great sin before He encountered Jesus.
He persecuted and even killed those who believed in Jesus as their Messiah and Saviour.
Paul called himself a blasphemer.
Paul watched and consented to the death of Stephen, even keeping the raiment of them that killed him.
BUT, after encountering, accepting and believing in Jesus, Paul proclaimed that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.”
It's Not About How Good or How Bad--It's About God's Gift of Grace
In closing, we must reiterate again, if you believe that your “good life and deeds” will get you into heaven, or your “sinful ways” cannot be forgiven by God, you are dead wrong.
And if you die in either of these states, without accepting and believing in Jesus and His death on the cross, you will be eternally separated from God and in torment. It is that simple.
Your “goodness” will not gain entrance to heaven.
Your “sinful life” does not make you unforgiveable. It does so ONLY if you reject Christ.
So, we implore you to ponder these scriptures and words and bow before God in repentance, accepting Jesus as your Saviour.
2 Peter 3:9 KJV
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
It is not God’s will that you should perish, so please accept His gift of grace in the atoning blood of Christ.
It is free. It is there for all. It is there for you.
It is that simple.
RVH