Question: Does God weigh the good vs. the bad I’ve done to decide whether I get into heaven?
Answer: You may be pretty sure that you’ll go to heaven someday to live with God after death. What is the reason for your belief? If your reasons are any of these common misconceptions, then you’re wrong:
I have done more good than bad in my life.
I have been a good person.
I attended church all of my life.
I have kept most of the 10 Commandments (known as the Law of Moses).
I have given money to the poor.
I gave money to the church each month.
I know a lot of people who are much worse than I am.
I haven’t killed anyone.
I was baptized as a baby.
I joined the church and was baptized.
My parents and grandparents are Christians.
My father was a pastor of a church.
I taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School.
I took communion (the Lord’s Supper) every time it was offered in church.
I am sure you could think of more reasons that people give as reasons they feel God will accept them because they’ve somehow earned their way into heaven, or salvation.
The Bible says, there is NO way that we can EARN the privilege of going to heaven after we die. There is only ONE way – through our accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to pay for our sins and becoming His disciple for the rest of our lives.
Jesus answered, “I AM the way the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” -John 14:6
For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins. -John 8:24
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. -Acts 4:12
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift from God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” -Romans 4:1-7
…nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of keeping the Law; since by works no one will be justified. -Galatians 2:16
Christians do good works and serve others BECAUSE they’ve accepted Jesus as their Savior. They want to show Him how much they love Him for all that He has done for them! Good works in the world are a RESULT of accepting Jesus’ gift of eternal life, not the REASON for receiving the gift.
Have you realized that Jesus died on a cross for you? Have you accepted this gift He offers you today so that you will never have to pay a penalty for your sins when you die? Thank Him, right now:
Jesus, I know that I have done terrible things and deserve punishment, but I accept that you’ve offered me your gift of forgiveness! I want you to guide me for the rest of my life on the earth. You died on a cross to pay for my sins and then rose from the dead on the third day afterwards. I want to come to be with you in heaven when I die and then live on the earth with you and all of your family in the future. You have offered me eternal life with you in Paradise, and I accept! Thank you!
