Wednesday, May 8, 2013

You Can't "Earn" Your Way to Heaven

S-God's Approval

S-"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

A-True Freedom

L-You Can't Earn Your Way to Heaven

        "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval." Galatians 2:19

Brethren, let's just get straight to the point. We can't "Earn" our way to heaven. 

There are so many people who believe if they do what's right and are a good they are saved That is just not the case. Some where along the way they have been brutally lied to, and the saddest part is, they believe it. 

Where in God's Word does He say, "If you are nice and obey the law, you are heaven bound?" 

NO WHERE!

Rather, God says, "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it." Romans 3:20

He also says, "There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law." Romans 3:30-31

Paul learned this first hand. He was a law following fanatic, until God got a hold of him.

Don't substitute good works for faith.

S-Share the importance of faith with someone who thinks good works is enough.