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“Homily Grits Devotional” http://www.homilygrits.com/

Written by the wise 85 yr old Robert VanHoose @ http://www.homilygrits.com

Read Romans 4,
Psalm 89:14-52
July 7

“How Good Do We Have to Be?”

“You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 AMP

There seems to be a wide divergence of opinions on how good we have to be to get to heaven. When asked what they would answer if God should ask why He should let you into heaven, a lot of life long Christians seem to think their church membership, good conduct ,or absence of major sins will make them good enough to get in.

Some churches teach that if you participate in all the sacraments or good works of the Church you will be good enough to get in.

Works righteousness is a slippery slope that is going to take anyone who actually thinks they can be good enough to get to heaven down to the wrong destination.

How sweet it is to know that we don’t have to pin our hope for heaven on how good we have been, but rather on our faith in how good Jesus Christ was in dying as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sins.

The only caveat to knowing that we are going to heaven on the goodness of Christ is that this is not a license go sin, but a freedom to fill God’s plans for fulfilling His purposes through us as we are free to live lives fully pleasing to Him, and fruitful in the good works that glorify, honor, and please Him.

“When our perceived goodness gets derailed by our sins in thought, word, deed, omission, and commission, how sweet it is to know that Jesus was more than good enough so that we don’t have to be.

Father, thank you that I do not have to depend on my flawed goodness to get to heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen

P.S. Here is a link for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, after first being drawn in by God…John 6:44… https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/gods-group-thoughts-for-7112013-the-truth-about-sin/