Good enough for Heaven?

Friend, the bible tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” —Romans 3:23a

But what is sin? Sin, the bible says, is the “transgression of the law.” “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” —

1 John 3:4

But what law? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us in the book of Romans that he had not known lust was sin except the “law” had declared it unto him.

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“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” — Romans 7:7

 

So the LAW, then, as Paul reveals it unto us, is the Ten Commandments; and the bible is clear that there are none that have not violated it.

 

“For there is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” — Ecclesiastes 7:20

When we die, the bible tells us that, we must all stand before God and be judged according to this law.

 

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened [the law]: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” — Revelation 20:12.

So, if you were to die to today and God judged you according to His law, how do you think you would stand? Test yourself and see.

1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3

Have you always loved God above all and always put Him first in your life? Money, sports, sex–whatever you love most is the “god” of your life; and that includes yourself.

2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image [idol].” — Exodus 20:4

Do you worship a false god (an idol) other than the God of the bible? If you believe in a god who allows sin (even if it’s a white lie), the god you worship is a false god (an idol); for the God of the Bible is a “consuming fire” Deuteronomy 4:24, who “will not at all acquit the wicked.” — Nahum 1:3 
 

3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” — Exodus 20:7

Have you ever used God’s name when cursing, or just casually, such as “Oh my God”? When we use God’s name irreverently— like a four-letter filth word— we dishonor Him, and God says He “will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

4. “Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.” — Exodus 20:8

Now, although in the New Testament we are no longer required to keep the sabbath day, we are commanded “to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” — Hebrews 10:25. You see, as with the sabbath day, God realized that man needed one day a week to rest from his labors and to use that day for nothing else but His worship. Have you always honored the Lord’s day? Or do you use that day for things like shopping, going out to eat, running errands, or fishing etc.? If you do, you are guilty of profaning the Lord’s day.

5. “Honour thy father and thy mother” — Exodus 20:12

Have you always obeyed authority, and only done those things that your parents would be pleased by? If not, you are guilty.

6. “Thou shalt not kill.” — Exodus 20:13

Murder, the bible says, begins in the heart. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” — Mark 7:21-23. Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:” — Matthew 5:21-22. And in 1 John 3:15 the Bible says that, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” If you have ever hated someone, had wrongful anger, or lost your temper, you are guilty.

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7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” — Exodus 20:14

God forbids sex outside of marriage. And Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” — Matthew 5:27-28 Have you ever had a lustful thought? If so, you are guilty.

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8. “Thou shalt not steal.” — Exodus 20:15

Have you ever stolen something, however small? God sees illegal music and software downloading as theft. Ever steal a grade or a test answer? If so, you are guilty.

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9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” — Exodus 20:16

Have you ever lied even once, including taking this test? No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, or even the intent behind the lie (“white” lies), God will not excuse lying. Jesus said to those self-righteous Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” — John 8:44

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10. “Thou shalt not covet.” — Exodus 20:17

Have you ever wanted something that wasn’t yours, or been jealous of something someone else has? If so. Then you’re guilty.

So how did you do? Be honest with yourself. When you stand before the judge of all the earth, who sees hate as murder and lust as adultery, would He find you guilty?

God is good, and because He is, He must punish sin; “for the wages of sin is death” — Romans 6:23a.

 

However, the death that God is here referring to is not just a physical death, it’s also a spiritual one. This “second death” is, as the bible describes it, a place of eternal torment; it's a place that “burneth with fire and brimstone.” “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night,” — Revelation 14:11a “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” — Revelation 20:14

Now here is the good news: God never intended the law to be the means by which man would enter heaven, but rather was God’s way of showing man it was impossible for his own goodness to merit it.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” — Romans 3:20

God commanded those self-righteous Pharisees to “repent ye, and believe the gospel,” Mark 1:15, and Paul declares in Acts 20:21 that he preached “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Repentance, is nothing more than coming into agreement with God about who and what you are in His sight —a sinner who, because you are guilty of violating His law, is deserving of that place called hell.

And this is why the Lord Jesus came and died. He fulfilled the law and did what man could not, so you and I could be reconciled back to Him.

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

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​Thanks be to God that through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, God has made provision for us to be reconciled back to Him and enter heaven, and to keep us from that place of eternal fire and torment. 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: — 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

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“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” — Romans 1:16

Friend, the gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s free gift to this lost and dying world: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 6:23b

 

Salvation is not in church membership, nor is it in baptism, nor sacraments, nor good works, nor is it in any specific prayer. It's obtained only by believing in what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you on the cross.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” — Romans 3:24-26

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In Acts 16:31 we have the only account in the Bible where the specific question is asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

 

And notice what Paul and Silas said. They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and though shalt be saved.” 

 

Now, it doesn't get any simpler than that.

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As the old hymn writer wrote, "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." 

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The moment you trust the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for you, the transaction is done. You say, "Well, I don't feel any different." Salvation's not based on how you feel. It's based on what God said. 

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The Bible says of Abraham that he "believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." — Romans 4:3

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"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." — 1 John 5:7-13 

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The only question left to answer is: do you believe man, or do you believe God?

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“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” — John 5:24

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” — Romans 10:8-10

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If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal saviour we'd love to hear from you.