Work work work work

It’s funny that as I talk to people, (frequently those who know they are facing the end of life,) I find there is a common misunderstanding of what it takes for people to get into to heaven. I hear people who describe themselves as Christians say, “I hope I’ve been good enough to get into heaven. I am especially baffled when I hear it from a Christian. I can understand it when I hear it from someone who is not a Christian. ” Where does that come from in the Christian faith community? What is getting taught? (What was getting taught I should say because I hear it a lot from the over 60 crowd)

Let’s think this through: if a Christian thinks they have to meet a certain performance level of being good in order to get into heaven, then what is the point of Jesus? Does not compute.

Sometimes I feel like Knute Rockne “Gentlemen, this is football . . .” as he takes his team back to the very basics in order to understand the game. Well as a pastor I sometimes feel the need to say, “Christian, this is the gospel.”

So let’s all take a quick refresher so that we can help those who think they are on a quest to earn their way into heaven.

First

John 3 :16
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That means whoever is in an ongoing faith walk personal relationship with Christ believing that He died for you individually, you will not die spiritually; you will live on and someday receive a resurrection body

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— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

That means we are saved (for the purpose of living in eternity in heaven with God) through grace (meaning that “being saved” is a gift that is given to us that we could not earn by our own works) so that no one could claim to be better than the next person. ( not to mention the fact that we could never be perfect enough to earn it on our own.

We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

2 Corinthians 5 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

When we become a follower of Christ, the old spiritual person no longer exists but a new one is born; one who will live in eternity with Jesus

And finally
Romans 8: 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

In a nut shell, yes there will be a judgment day but if you are in Christ Jesus, meaning willingly surrendered to him in response to the gift of grace you have received from him, there will be no condemnation for you. There’s only Grace instead!

Did you see anything in there saying we have to be good to earn a spot in heaven? Absolutely not!

So where does “being good” come in? It’s our humble, willing, yielded response to what we have already received by Grace

Now, unless there’s any questions, let’s get out there and play ball!

Stay close to Jesus

REG