Being a “good person” is a construct of the human mind, achieved by appraising one another. The Apostle Paul say’s, 2 Cor 10:12 "measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, they are not wise." You may not be as bad as someone else, but not a single good deed can nullify your sin, just as feeding the homeless cannot bring back someone you murdered. By implying that by some merit of your own, you are qualified for acceptance into God’s kingdom, you’ve exalted yourself in pride and know not the truth.
Rom 3:12 ~ ~ Isa 64:6
There is none that doeth good, no, not one. ~
~ all our righteousness are as filthy rags...
If righteousness could be attained through works ( being good ), then they stand as impersonal third party entities, whereby men can become righteous apart from God, without a relationship. Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing”. John 15:5 But, no flesh shall boast of its own strength or glory before the Almighty! Works based religion grossly overlooks the necessity for faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial completed work on the cross. God’s greatest command; is that we relate to Him by loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! Having strength within yourself to act out what you presume will please God, completely ignores God’s command for relationship. Establishing your own terms whereby you justify yourself, is as silly as worshiping a golden calf created by your hands. When Jesus commands the goats to Hell, He doesn’t say, “depart from me, you are simply not good enough.” No! He says, “depart from me, for I never knew you!” Jesus in effect will say, “Despite all the mercy and kindness I have shown you and the persistent wooing of My Holy Spirit, you never bothered to come into a relationship with Me. You’ve spent a lifetime justifying yourself, refusing to get to know Me. And so be it, now I reject you! Depart from Me!”
God makes it so simple, yet we put the work back into it.
Posted by: Gail Nick | 11/11/2010 at 09:23 AM