Nov 28 - 2 Corinthians 7:1

 

Since we have these

promises, dear friends,

let us purify ourselves

from everything that

contaminates body and spirit,

perfecting holiness out

of reverence for God.

2 Corinthians 7:1

 

Good people do NOT go to heaven!

 

That’s a provocative statement. But sometimes you have to be provocative for people to hear the truth.

 

Of course, among all those who go to heaven, some are “good” … but … it’s not on the basis of their goodness that they get in. In the formula for salvation, “we are justified by God’s grace … effective through faith … apart from works prescribed by the law.” That’s the formula for salvation that the Apostle Paul starts laying out in Romans 3:23. And it clearly says that it’s not our works – our goodness (or badness) -- that save us.

 

So what does save us? It is (1) God’s grace when it is coupled with (2) our faith (and not our goodness or our works). Therefore, it is not “good people” who go to heaven; it’s faithful people who go to heaven. Indeed, it is our faith in Christ the Savior which links us to the salvation our Lord Jesus won for us on the cross.

 

So does our goodness matter?

 

Absolutely!

 

In fact, today’s verse reminds us of this. Scripture repeatedly calls us to “purify ourselves.” And “holiness” is invaluable. Not only does it bless our lives, but it’s a form of worship. We should strive to be holy – it says – “out of reverence for God.”

 

Indeed, we should love him and his ways more than the world and its ways. “Since we have [all of Christ’s] promises [and blessings],” we should love God more than ourselves and our selfish desires.

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to

borrow Christ’s goodness

… not try to manufacture it

on my own