Too Good to be True

 I struggle with talking to good people about their need for Christ.  They don't cheat, steal, lie, judge, curse, drink, or do drugs.  They aren't sexually driven, or greedy for gain.  Why would good people see the need for some "god"  to guide them when they know how to be good on their own?  Scripture gives a simple answer to this question.  No one is good. 

Psalm 14:1-3

1.The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  2.The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  3.They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Mathew 19: 16-17

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

There are a couple of hard truths in these scriptures.  The first is that no one is good.  We have all gone against God's word in some way or another and are unworthy to be called good.  We are all inherently wicked.  We are backwards seeking for our self satisfaction instead of Holiness to the Glory of God.  Even when we try to do good, as Paul said in Romans 7:21, evil is present with us.  Our "good" is for our own gain of either power, notoriety, or glory. This is a hard thing to confront because there are people in the world that we consider good, but if they deny their need for the cross then they are lost. Self righteousness is in opposition of the righteousness that is hidden in Christ Jesus, and it can not compete.

 The second truth is that even though we are not good, if we receive the gift of life through Jesus Christ, seeking to follow his way then we are clothed in his righteousness and inherit eternal life. In a nut shell there are some "good" people who are going to hell and others that we would consider "bad" who are headed for heaven's gates.  Why?  It is because man's righteousness is as filthy rags to God, and our only salvation is through Jesus Christ.  

Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

2 Timothy 3:4-5

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.


In conclusion, if we say that we or anyone we know is good, we are lying to ourselves.  The only thing about us that is truly good is the God of our salvation.  We can do "good" things because we are his creation, but we can only be good by admitting that we aren't any good on our own and walking in Jesus' righteousness on our behalf. 

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

1 John 1:9

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



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