Isn’t being a good person, enough?
The answer is no. First, none of us are truly good people. We have the original sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:16-17, Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:5), which has spoiled our flesh. We humans are now flawed where by default, we love to “sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20, 1 John 1:8). But what’s so bad about sin?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 6:23
When you are born, you have that original sin. We were given free will where our human nature prefers sin and selfishness. Remember that God is pure goodness, pure light. So, we need some way to get right with God. For the Jewish people, it was blood sacrifices, and that was ultimately replaced with Jesus’ actual life sacrifice. If you take issue of why this is literally necessary, check out “Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lewis which covers this, at length. (Link over in Facts & Logic.)
Also see: Sin and Getting Saved.
Your Trial:
I’ve run across this great allegory:
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Imagine you’ve committed a crime. You are on trial, and you have been found guilty. You plead with the judge and tell him about about all of the good things you’ve done. That may be true, but you are still guilty and must pay what is due. Then, a stranger you’ve never met before walks in, agrees to pay your fines and agrees to go to jail in your place. You are free to go and are no longer a criminal in the eyes of the law. Your debt is paid. Also, if you commit another crime (on accident or by weakness), this stranger will save you again! How do you repay this stranger? All He asks is that you acknowledge what He did for you, and that you will try to turn away from your evil ways and do better. But don’t worry, He is also supplying you with a helper for the rest of your life, to help you head in the right direction. THAT is what Jesus did for us. It is a remarkable gift! |
This concept of “If I’m a good person then that should be enough for God” is a lie from the Enemy to keep you lost in the wilderness. That’s not what the offer is and that isn’t how this existence works.
Do I need to be a good person?
As discussed over in What About Bible Versions a bit, one of the main schisms in Christian and Christian-like religions is this notion of “works”.
That is, if you have to do good works to get into Heaven. The short answer is no.
However, once you are “saved”, you can’t help but produce fruit. You can’t help but to do positive, productive things. So, a believer will end up doing good works – but it’s a byproduct of their relationship with Jesus, not a prerequisite for it.
They have a pretty good animation for this in the recent documentary American Gospel, start at about the :18 minute mark. This is talking about Catholicism, but this “works-based” belief exists in a lot of religions:
Put another way, when you turn away from sin and turn towards our savior who wants amazing things for you, the Holy Spirit starts doing a work in you. In the same way an apple tree can’t produce a banana, once you invite God in, His spirit can’t help but produce good things. Good works incidentally happen from a saved person. You are not saved because you’ve done good works.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. ” –Ephesians 2:8