good enough?

"You are good, you are good, when there is no good in me," began a song at church today.  It felt awesome to proclaim this truth - that God alone is good! 

I continue to encounter people who believe that the point of "all this" (spirituality or religion) is to "become a better person."  And this sounds good on the surface; you know, that Jesus was a great man - and He lived a life we should all try to live - He loved people the way we should love people.

I have a dear friend who has decided to just take from each religion whatever seems to "go together" and accept the similarities as truth.  Aren't we all worshipping the same God anyways?  I mean, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism have so many of the same characters - and it's all about trying to do "good" in this world.   As long as you are praying to "god" and trying to become a "better" person - isn't that the point?

While trying to do "good" is commendable - the Bible is clear that "doing good" misses the point.  The problem with us trying to "do good" - is that we will always fall short.  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of the Lord."  (Romans 3:23)  When sin entered the World via Adam and Eve - God immediately killed animals (the first sacrifice) to make clothes for Adam and Eve. Because of the sin - God required of His followers sacrifice as atonement for their sin.  This is practiced throughout the old testament - continuing in the next chapter of Genesis - where Cain and Able bring offerings to God, Noah, the Law of Moses and sacrifices in the temple - all the way up to Jesus. 

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:10

Christ died as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  We no longer have to sacrifice to be in relationship with God.  So, even though we now have the freedom that comes from Christ's salvation - we are still sinners - we are not saved by doing "good" - we are saved by God's grace alone. 

No, none of us are "good" enough to save ourselves.  Even Jesus declared that God alone is good: "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone." - Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19

I pray that this will speak to your heart - that we can all be still and accept what God has already given to us: salvation.   God has not given us the ability to live a perfect life, or the gift of being "good" - but He has given us the gift of redeeming our sin for His "good" purposes.

"while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:13,14