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1 Corinthians 1:26-31 “26 For consider your calling, brothers:not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, tobring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human beingmight boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your
life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
“If a person who is not a Christian dies, and they were a “GOOD PERSON”, what’s their ETERNAL DESTINY?”
This assumes the fate of a “GOOD PERSON” in the hands of what must certainly be a “FAIR GOD” and suggests, WHY NOT let a “GOOD PERSON” into HEAVEN?"
That “GOOD” can be defined in any of the following ways. I’m a…….
The question presupposes: • there are CLEARLY “good people” in the world.
The question presupposes: • there are CLEARLY “good people” in the world • that “good people” somehow DESERVE to go to heaven versus hell.
The question presupposes: • there are CLEARLY “good people” in the world. • that “good people” somehow DESERVE to go to heaven versus hell. • that heaven is a reward given out by God to those HE JUDGES TO BE “good”, or at least “good enough”.
The question presupposes: • there are CLEARLY “good people” in the world. • that “good people” somehow DESERVE to go to heaven versus hell. • that heaven is a reward given out by God to those HE JUDGES TO BE “good”, or at least “good enough”. • that getting to heaven is DETERMINED BY MAN, notDETERMINED BY GOD.
Worst of all, it presupposes that JESUS CHRISTand HIS PLANto dieto save man is of MINOR IMPORTANCEcompared to WHAT A “GOOD PERSON” THINKS.
Worst of all, it presupposes that JESUS CHRISTand HIS PLANto dieto save man is of MINOR IMPORTANCEcompared to WHAT “GOOD PERSON” THINKS. • that being “good” TAKES PRECEDENTover all other CONSIDERATIONS OF GOD;
The worst of all, it presupposes that JESUS CHRISTand HIS PLANto dieto save man is of MINOR IMPORTANCEcompared to WHAT “GOOD PERSON” THINKS. • that being “good” TAKES PRECIDENTover all other CONSIDERATIONS OF GOD; • that regardless of who JESUS IS or WHY HE CAME TO EARTH, I am a “good person”, so I cannot possibly be DENIEDHEAVEN!
Wheredoes this whole idea that “GOOD PEOPLE”can be saved, come from?
Isaiah 55:8-9 “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Without taking into account what God THINKS, or by IGNORING GOD, man reached the conclusion that “GOOD People”deserve salvation.
First of all man IS A SINFUL creature. • Left to our own: • CHOICES
First of all man IS A SINFUL creature. • Left to our own: • CHOICES • JUDGMENT
First of all man IS A SINFUL creature. • Left to our own: • CHOICES • JUDGMENT • TEMPTATION
First of all man IS A SINFUL creature. • Left to our own: • CHOICES • JUDGMENT • TEMPTATION • …we will usually not make the CORRECT CHOICES.
Genesis 2:16-17 “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the TREE of the KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL you shall NOT EAT, for in the day that you eatof it you shall SURELY DIE.”
Genesis 3:6 “6 So when the woman SAW that the tree was GOOD FOR FOOD, and that it was a DELIGHT TO THE EYES, and that the tree WAS TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, she TOOK of its fruit AND ATE, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and HE ATE.
Acting on our own, here’s how we make decisions…. • SEE • was GOOD FOR FOOD
Acting on our own, here’s how we make decisions…. • SEE • was GOOD FOR FOOD • DELIGHT TO THE EYES
Acting on our own, here’s how we make decisions….SEE • was GOOD FOR FOOD • DELIGHTTO THE EYES • WAS TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE
Acting on our own, here’s how we make decisions….SEE • was GOOD FOR FOOD • DELIGHTTO THE EYES • WAS TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE • On our own we’ll MAKE THE WRONGCHOICE
So EVEN WHEN left with instructionsto help MAN choose GOOD, he will CHOOSE EVILTHINKING it will make him “GOOD!”
Discussion between Jesus and a man who thought GOODNESSwas…
Luke 18:18-23 “18 And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'" 21 And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
Here was a "good" man who wanted ETERNAL LIFE… In telling him to sell and give to the poor, and follow Jesus, it revealed he was not “AS GOOD” as he thought he was.
Here was a "good" man who wanted ETERNAL LIFE… In telling him to sell and give to the poor, Jesus was revealing he was not “AS GOOD” as he thought he was. Jesus says, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Jesus goes on to explain to this man the difficulty those with wealth have in ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
If I say I am a “GOOD” person and SOMEHOW I think MY “GOODNESS”puts me on an EQUAL LEVEL WITH GOD, what am I ignoring?
I’m saying there is some “FORMULA OF GOOD” that makes me 100%RIGHTwith God.
I’m saying there is some “FORMULA OF GOOD” that makes me 100%RIGHTwith God. More importantly, I am IGNORING MY NEED FOR A SAVIOR!
I’m saying there is some “FORMULA OF GOOD” that makes me 100%RIGHTwith God. More importantly, I am IGNORING MY NEED FOR A SAVIOR! Jesus’ perfect life and sinless death MEAN NOTHING.
I’m saying there is some “FORMULA OF GOOD” that makes me 100%RIGHTwith God. More importantly, I am IGNORING MY NEED FOR A SAVIOR! Jesus’ perfect life and sinless death MEAN NOTHING. That's why Jesus won't let this young man get away with using the word “GOOD” casually.
…not about Jesus making some DISTINCTION between HIMSELFand GOD…
Was Jesus Good? No! • He was PERFECT!