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Thinking of Earning Your Way To Heaven?
Have you ever heard of someone who thought they could work their way
into heaven?
The Jew of the first century thought that he could, through
keeping the Mosaical law. The apostle Paul wrote about this outlook
quite extensively in the book of Romans. “But Israel, pursuing the
law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why?
Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of
the law” (9:31-32). Though Paul had indicated that salvation would
be owed the man who perfectly kept the law -- (“Now to him who works,
the wages are not counted as grace but as debt,” 4:4) -- the fact
remained that no one perfectly kept the law! “There is none
righteous, no, not one” (3:10).
We believe we know some today who think much the same way as the
first century Jew.
Some would be classified as “non-church-goers.” They believe in
God and an afterlife, but they make no effort to truly know God through
His Son. “I don’t need religion,” many of these would say. They are
law-abiding citizens who practice a moral code, most likely learned from
their parents. They figure that the overall tendency of their life
toward good will sweep them into heaven when their life is over. They
are willingly ignorant of the fact that they have a problem which cannot
be overcome by their conduct, no matter how good. Their problem? “All
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23).
But there are many “church-goers” who as well think this way. “If
I read the Bible ___ hours a week, say ___ prayers, attend ___ services,
give ___% of my money, practice a perfect understanding of the New
Testament, live a good moral life,
then-----” Are we exaggerating? We don’t think so. (It could be that
this type of thinking has made more inroads into our minds
than we realize.)
Beloved, none of us have perfectly kept (nor will perfectly keep)
the will of God. We are not being flippant in such an acknowledgement.
It truly is tragic, “for the wages of sin is death” (6:23). But
we point out the fact to underscore man’s inability to gain heaven by
some perfect keeping of God’s word. It just won’t be done.
“For the wages of sin is death, but” -- AND WE REJOICE IN
THIS! -- “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.” Elsewhere Paul wrote, “But indeed I also count all things
loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... that
I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having
my own righteousness, which is from the law,
but that which is through faith
in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by
faith” (Philippians 3:9).
Let no one misunderstand. Reading the Bible, attending worship
services, praying, etc. are all important and part of God’s plan for
men. Further, man’s inability to be saved by law-keeping in no way frees
him from being subject to law. Men are amenable to law even today,
“under law toward Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21). So let no one think
his freedom in Christ brings freedom from law. Too many have followed
this line of thinking to hell. But one must beware of any mindset that
would seek to take the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2) and
propose to ride a perfect keeping of it all the way to
heaven.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart
from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).
May these thoughts from God’s word humble us. (We have a problem
that ‘big, bad man’ cannot solve on his own.)
May these meditations cause us to obey and daily praise -- not
ourselves in our good-doing (God forbid!) -- but the One who, in His
lovingkindness, has provided for our salvation.
--Mike Noble
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