ARE YOU GOOD ENOUGH TO BE SAVED?
The question of this article truly needs to be addressed. This question needs to be answered because some believe that one can be saved by being a “good” person. Some believe that if one is sincere, honest, hard-working, loves one’s family, and does no harm to others, he will have a home in heaven.
Perhaps, you have heard someone say, “Well, if my grandmother didn’t make it to heaven, no one is going; there has never been a better woman than my grandmother.” We should all love and respect our parents and grandparents. Due to the respect we have for those of our families it is easy to see why someone would make such a statement.
However, the real issue is this: Does the Bible teach that one can go to heaven by living a clean moral life? Can one be “good” enough to make it to heaven?
The Bible answer is very clear. There was a rich, young, ruler who came to Jesus with a question: “Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Jesus responded by saying, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God” (Matthew 19:16-17). Please notice that Jesus said there is no one, except God, who is “good”! Paul wrote, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). In addition, the scripture says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yes, the Bible is very clear that there is no accountable person before God who is so “good” that he or she does not sin (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:20). And, because sin damns the soul, no one can go to heaven by being a “good” person (Romans 6:23).
Acts chapter 10 is the record of the conversion of Cornelius. Cornelius was a Gentile man who believed in the one true God. It is stated of Cornelius that he was devout; he feared God with all his house; he gave much alms to the people, and he prayed to God always (Acts 10:2). Also, Cornelius (a Gentile) had a good reputation among the Jews (Acts 10:22). These are all outstanding qualities! If Cornelius lived today, surely, people would say, “He is a good man!”
Yet, Cornelius, although he lived a morally clean life, he was lost without the gospel! He was instructed to send for Peter, who would tell Cornelius what he “ought” to do (Acts 10:6). When Peter came, he shared with Cornelius the gospel message by which he could be saved (Acts 11:14). Without the words of the gospel, Cornelius would have remained a good, moral—lost—sinner!
We all want to live by God’s moral standards so that we will be thought of as “good” people. But don’t count on going to heaven by being good! Being “good” does not take away sin! Only Jesus blood and obedience to the gospel can bring forgiveness. “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
