Being a Good Person is Not Good Enough

By: Randy Jones

Our Savior Jesus Christ speaks several times throughout the New Testament concerning how and what one must do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. One particular thing He made clear in (John 3:3) when speaking to Nicodemus was "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."that unless a man repents of his sin he will in no way see the Kingdom of Heaven. Why then would not just being a good person all your life make us a great candidate for Heaven? As pointed out throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament man is born into sin and has a sinful nature and because of this sinful nature we have to be reborn of the spirit and cleansed from sin to have a relationship with Christ. In (Romans 3:9) Paul shows us that all have been charged with sin stating "What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin." Paul also clarifies himself further in verse 23 by stating to everyone "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

So through all of this how is it that we have a chance if being good isn't good enough to get us into Heaven. It is given to us in one simple word which was repeated over and over by many such as Isaiah, John The Baptist, Paul, Peter. and even through Jesus Christ; "Repent." All the prophets and disciples and even to the Savior Himself tells us that for man to have a relationship with God, he must first shed the sin from his being and become as a new creation. Many have disputed over time that God is to harsh or living a Christian life is much to hard for a person to accomplish, but in reality it is living in sin that is hard because sin has no reward except what it pays at the time. If a person deems themselves as "a good person" than being good and having salvation would make them a great person in the eyes of God. Here is the twist on the being good for Christians. As Christ created His ministry on earth He made it clear that it was the duty of the born again to go out into all the earth and preach the gospel. He sat down and ate dinner with those deemed unrighteous by others and He traveled through lands and spoke to those that the proclaimed righteous would not speak to such as shown in (John 4:3,15) with the Samaritan woman at the well. Many as Christians sometimes forget that we have a commitment after being saved to go and be a witness of Christ even where we think we will not have any effect. It is not up to us to choose who and when we witness because Christ gave us a charge know as (The Great Commission) listed within the gospels of the New Testament; Matthew 28:16,20, Mark 16:14,20, and Luke 24:44,48 which simply states (Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.) Many Christians fail to realize that the main reason that many people consider a good life over a saved life is merely due to the fact that people watch those who claim to have salvation and when we become judgmental of the sinner we contribute to the sin. I do not mean to be taken out of text here, the Bible is clear as to what is sin and what will be judged as sin, so we do not have to incorporate ourselves in the business of condemning, but rather be a witness, speak the truth of Christ and if you are received talk further with that person, if you are not than carry on and let The Holy Spirit take over the seed you have planted. I will end with this, Everyday you walk by someone who you think is a good person, they have a good sense of humor and always upbeat and friendly to talk with. Would you not as a Christian feel in your heart that this good person deserves the right to be witnessed to and given the chance to have eternal life in happiness. Don't be afraid of rejection as a Christian because if you think back, if Christ had been afraid of rejection we would have no hope and if the person who witnessed to you was afraid you may have not received a second chance. Everyday try to keep this verse in mind (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Reference: Evangelism Is... Author's Dave Earley and David Wheeler 2010

Scripture quotations: ebible.com New King James Version 2010

Scripture quotations: Thompson Chain Reference Bible; King James Version 1982