“I’m a good person. I’m kind, helpful, generous and loving. Isn’t that what God wants? Won’t being a good person get me into Heaven?”
Pastor Ryan of Palm Valley Church: If being a good person was what it took to get to Heaven, I would have a hard time making a case for a good God. That might sound a bit shocking, but follow me here for a bit…
If “being good” was the requirement for getting into Heaven, the follow-up question to this statement is overwhelming: How good is good enough? Are we working on a sliding scale here? Does God keep a record of our good acts and the top 10%…30%…60% of performers make the cut? Are we essentially measured by comparison to those around us?
Maybe “good enough” is an individual standard and is not related to what anyone else does. Perhaps your good deeds are weighed against your bad deeds and as long as the scale tips towards the good, you are in! This, then, begs the question: How are things measured? How many times do I have to walk an elderly person across the street to make up for the lie I told? If I commit adultery, how hard do I have to work for redemption?
As you can see, this seemingly simple philosophy of “good people go to Heaven” has some serious implications: worry, anxiety, uncertainty. There is not a definitive line between “good person” and “bad person,” so we are all left hoping and wondering if we made the cut. For God to let us live in this type of uncertainty does not seem very kind or loving to me. In fact, I would go as far to say that it is not kind and loving.
Fortunately for us, God is kind and loving. He is very clear with his standard of “good enough.” It’s not obscure. It’s not hard to define. There is no uncertainty. God’s standard for “good enough” is perfection. Unless you are perfect, you will not be getting into Heaven. God’s standard makes it clear that no one is good enough to make it to Heaven on their own.
So, where is the love in that?
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – Jesus
God came down to earth to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin. With this debt paid, God offers forgiveness to anyone who chooses to put their faith and trust in Him. God’s gift of forgiveness is a free gift that He paid for with a great price. I cannot think of a better expression of love. Here’s the amazing news: Going to Heaven is based ONLY on the forgiveness of your sins.
So, do I not need to do good deeds?
Actually, no. You do not NEED to do good deeds. However, if we truly accept God’s forgiveness, recognizing Jesus’s sacrifice and love for us, our natural response is to live a life that honors Him—not out of obligation but purely out of love. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” This goes beyond the Ten Commandments with which we are familiar. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemy. Pray for those who hurt you. Take care of widows, orphans and prisoners. Read through the Gospels, and you will come across many commands like these to love and serve others. We just have to get the order right. We serve and “do good” not to earn God’s forgiveness or an entry into Heaven. We serve in response to a loving God who freely gives forgiveness to those who believe.
Jennifer: I am extra glad that Ryan addressed this question! Many believers and non-believers alike who have come across my couch have been unaware of this very important piece of being a Christ-follower: God’s grace, not our works, is what gets us into Heaven.
For some believers, the idea that we must be good in order to get to Heaven creates a great deal of internal guilt. These individuals present to my office in anguish over past sins, current indiscretions and future projections. They have a great many misgivings when it comes to the afterlife. Some come in seeking some form of absolution for their sins, as though I have a right to judge. I can no more judge you than you can judge me, but I do so enjoy being the bearer of good news. That is, I always relish the opportunity to bring relief to believers who have been suffering by discussing the Scriptures with them.
When I’m explaining this truth to people, I often refer to Romans 3:20-28 or Ephesians 2:8-9 for more information on just how admission to Heaven actually works. Ephesians says this, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This truly is a gift—can you imagine walking around with constant anxiety about whether you’re doing enough to earn Heavenly admission?! That gives a whole new meaning to the idea of keeping up with the Joneses!
