Are You a Good Person?
Why it is an important question.
Are you a good person? Most of us would like to be considered good people. Not only do we desire to be, but we understand that being a good person will tend to pay eternal dividends. We think for instance, that all good people will go to heaven and all bad people will go to that place we would all rather not talk about. With this much at stake shouldn’t we make sure we are in fact good people? Where can we go to find a good standard with which to measure ourselves? Well it stands to reason that if there is a heaven and hell, and if hell is as unpleasant as it is reputed to be (and I am sure it is) and those who are there would rather not be, there must be an omnipotent judge who will determine, with authority, who will go to which place. What would the judge’s standard be and what verdict would he hand down on our lives? Are we in fact good or bad people?
In the Scriptures (Bible) we read these words…
Romans 3:12
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
So the verdict is in, at least from the one who matters, the one who has the ability to determine where we go regardless of what we think, and with no appeals. If you are like most people you will be tempted to say, “Wait a minute I think I am a good person, what standard does God use?” That is a good question, let’s take a look.
Let’s look at a few of the Ten Commandments which most consider a “good” place to start (pun intended).
• Thou shall not steal…
Have you ever stolen (taken something that did not belong to you) anything, no matter how insignificant? If you have what would that make you…. A thief.
• Thou shall not commit adultery…
Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus said that if you look upon another with lust you have committed adultery already in your heart. If you have lusted upon another you are an adulterer.
• Thou shall not bear false witness (lie)…
Have you ever lied? If you have what does that make you? A liar.
Can someone who is a lying, thieving adulterer claim to be a good person? No not really, but I can hear the complaints… “I only did these things a couple of times and I do not do them now, I am trying to be better!” Have you ever stopped to consider where those bad things came from? What was it in you that would allow you to be a liar or an adulterer or a thief in any given circumstance? Even if you only stole one time, what was it about you that would allow you to even contemplate stealing once? The Bible tells us that the ability or inclination to do evil comes from within us. Sure our environment, our circumstances may be an enticement, but ultimately it is our own lusts that bring forth evil.
James 1:13-16
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
When we realize that we have not measured up to God’s standard and when we understand the reason for this is that on the inside, we have lusts that cause us to violate God’s law almost continually, then we can be helped.
Romans 8:6-7
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
We cannot merit heaven on our own; we are sinners, evil people who have gathered to ourselves the just deserts for our sins. We have earned death and separation from God forever in Hell.
Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death…
We, however, are not without hope because even though our sins earn us death, God has made away to make sinful, evil people acceptable in heaven.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The law of God which tells us that we are evil people drives us to find an escape in someone else and that someone else is Christ.
Galatians 3:23-27
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
When we confess our sins, when we say the same thing that God says about them, and place our faith in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection on our behalf then we can be made acceptable in Him. You see Christ was good, he lived a perfect life. Christ died as a sacrifice to satisfy the Father’s wrath upon sinners who come to Christ in faith. He took upon Himself the sin of us all. Through Christ our sins have been punished; through Christ we can find rest and righteousness. We cannot claim to be good ourselves, but we can claim the goodness (righteousness) of Christ.
Philippians 3:8-9
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
So I hope you can see how important your view of yourself is. Are you a good person? If you think so there is no hope for you. You will continue to try to get to heaven on your own merit and you will fail. You will be cast into hell to pay for your own sins. If you understand your sinfulness before a Holy God you are not far from the kingdom of heaven. You must then…
Romans 10:9-10
confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
If we can be of any service to you please contact us.
Pastor Jeff
Why it is an important question.
Are you a good person? Most of us would like to be considered good people. Not only do we desire to be, but we understand that being a good person will tend to pay eternal dividends. We think for instance, that all good people will go to heaven and all bad people will go to that place we would all rather not talk about. With this much at stake shouldn’t we make sure we are in fact good people? Where can we go to find a good standard with which to measure ourselves? Well it stands to reason that if there is a heaven and hell, and if hell is as unpleasant as it is reputed to be (and I am sure it is) and those who are there would rather not be, there must be an omnipotent judge who will determine, with authority, who will go to which place. What would the judge’s standard be and what verdict would he hand down on our lives? Are we in fact good or bad people?
In the Scriptures (Bible) we read these words…
Romans 3:12
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
So the verdict is in, at least from the one who matters, the one who has the ability to determine where we go regardless of what we think, and with no appeals. If you are like most people you will be tempted to say, “Wait a minute I think I am a good person, what standard does God use?” That is a good question, let’s take a look.
Let’s look at a few of the Ten Commandments which most consider a “good” place to start (pun intended).
• Thou shall not steal…
Have you ever stolen (taken something that did not belong to you) anything, no matter how insignificant? If you have what would that make you…. A thief.
• Thou shall not commit adultery…
Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus said that if you look upon another with lust you have committed adultery already in your heart. If you have lusted upon another you are an adulterer.
• Thou shall not bear false witness (lie)…
Have you ever lied? If you have what does that make you? A liar.
Can someone who is a lying, thieving adulterer claim to be a good person? No not really, but I can hear the complaints… “I only did these things a couple of times and I do not do them now, I am trying to be better!” Have you ever stopped to consider where those bad things came from? What was it in you that would allow you to be a liar or an adulterer or a thief in any given circumstance? Even if you only stole one time, what was it about you that would allow you to even contemplate stealing once? The Bible tells us that the ability or inclination to do evil comes from within us. Sure our environment, our circumstances may be an enticement, but ultimately it is our own lusts that bring forth evil.
James 1:13-16
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
When we realize that we have not measured up to God’s standard and when we understand the reason for this is that on the inside, we have lusts that cause us to violate God’s law almost continually, then we can be helped.
Romans 8:6-7
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
We cannot merit heaven on our own; we are sinners, evil people who have gathered to ourselves the just deserts for our sins. We have earned death and separation from God forever in Hell.
Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death…
We, however, are not without hope because even though our sins earn us death, God has made away to make sinful, evil people acceptable in heaven.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The law of God which tells us that we are evil people drives us to find an escape in someone else and that someone else is Christ.
Galatians 3:23-27
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
When we confess our sins, when we say the same thing that God says about them, and place our faith in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection on our behalf then we can be made acceptable in Him. You see Christ was good, he lived a perfect life. Christ died as a sacrifice to satisfy the Father’s wrath upon sinners who come to Christ in faith. He took upon Himself the sin of us all. Through Christ our sins have been punished; through Christ we can find rest and righteousness. We cannot claim to be good ourselves, but we can claim the goodness (righteousness) of Christ.
Philippians 3:8-9
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
So I hope you can see how important your view of yourself is. Are you a good person? If you think so there is no hope for you. You will continue to try to get to heaven on your own merit and you will fail. You will be cast into hell to pay for your own sins. If you understand your sinfulness before a Holy God you are not far from the kingdom of heaven. You must then…
Romans 10:9-10
confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
If we can be of any service to you please contact us.
Pastor Jeff
