Would you consider yourself to be a good person?
Would you be willing to test that?
1. Have you ever told a lie?
Yes No
I've yet to meet anyone who could honestly say no. If I told lies do you think it would be fair to call me a liar? The same applies to you.
2. Have you ever stolen anything?
Yes No
Regardless of how small it was. The value of the item doesn't matter, petty theft is still theft. Have you ever taken something that belonged to someone else; school, work, parents? What would you call someone who has stolen things? Yeah, you call them a thief!
3. Have you ever lusted?
Yes No
Jesus said, "Anyone who looks on a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) God judges by our thoughts and intentions, not just our actions. That brings us to the next question.
4. Have you ever hated someone?
Yes No
5. Have you ever used God's name as a curse word?
Yes No
If you have used God's name in that way you are a blasphemer and the Bible says, "He will not hold him guiltless who takes the name of the Lord in vain" (Exodus 20:7).
__________________
These are just 5 of God's standards that are expressions of His perfect character. If this was the standard by which you were to be judged when you stand before God, would you be innocent or guilty? No one else is going to see your answer so be honest with yourself.
If you were guilty (and by those standards we all are, Romans 3:23), and what lay in the balance was Heaven and Hell, which one would you deserve to go to?
Now maybe your thinking, “A good God wouldn't sentence me to Hell!” But let me ask you this, what if a convicted thief and murderer were to stand before a judge and say, “I know I'm guilty but I'm really sorry, I promise to try not to do it again!” and the judge let him go? Would you say that is a good judge? No! That would be a terrible judge. A good judge would enforce the law.
God is a good judge. And as such on the day of judgment He will punish all lairs, the lustful, adulterers, idolaters and blasphemers. (Revelation 21:8)
Does that concern you?
It should.
But,
If you were guilty (and by those standards we all are, Romans 3:23), and what lay in the balance was Heaven and Hell, which one would you deserve to go to?
Now maybe your thinking, “A good God wouldn't sentence me to Hell!” But let me ask you this, what if a convicted thief and murderer were to stand before a judge and say, “I know I'm guilty but I'm really sorry, I promise to try not to do it again!” and the judge let him go? Would you say that is a good judge? No! That would be a terrible judge. A good judge would enforce the law.
God is a good judge. And as such on the day of judgment He will punish all lairs, the lustful, adulterers, idolaters and blasphemers. (Revelation 21:8)
Does that concern you?
It should.
But,
God does not want you to perish. He is rich in mercy and compassion, and has provided a way for you to be forgiven. He has invited you to come to Him for a full pardon and receive the free gift of Eternal Life. You cannot earn it, and you do not deserve it, but God is offering it to you because He loves you. Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you don’t have two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don't even know steps in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you. That’s what God did for you 2000 years ago. The Bible says that the God of the Universe became a man (Jesus Christ), and suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine so that we could be set free. It's as simple as this--we broke the Law, and Jesus paid our fine.
"God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us." (Galatians 3:13)
"God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us." (Galatians 3:13)
That is the gospel. That is the good news. Jesus was punished by the Father so we wouldn't have to be. All that is left is for us to accept this free gift.
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
If you will come to Jesus in prayer, repent of those sins that you are guilty of and honestly believe that Jesus did in fact die on the cross for your sins and rose again from the dead you will be saved from the judgment to come, and become a child of God!
"Repent…that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13).