Last Sunday, we began a new message series called “All About Salvation.” In this series, we looking at what God’s word has to say about the important topic of salvation. We’re concentrating on looking at the first 3 chapters of the book of Romans.
Last Sunday, our message from Romans 1 was entitled “Understanding God’s Wrath.” We learned that everyone ought to worship God because God has revealed Himself to everyone in creation. However, people don’t worship God, they worship created things, which is sin. Because of this sin, everyone who doesn’t worship their creator is under God’s wrath. God still loves them, but until they accept His salvation, they are under His wrath and destined for an eternity in hell. We also learned that God gives people who don’t put Him first in their lives over to sins of sexual impurity, homosexuality and a depraved mind.
Now, I’m sure some of you were thinking, well, I know a lot of people who aren’t characterized by any of those sins, they’re good people, but they don’t believe everything in the Bible and wouldn’t claim to be saved. They are moral, upstanding, family loving people. Most believe in God, but they don’t claim to have a relationship with Jesus or have Him as top priority in their lives. What about them? Are they saved or are they headed for hell? How should we talk to those kind of good people?
Today, my message is entitled “What About Good People?” We’re going to be looking at what the Bible has to say about the kind of good people that many of us know. Many churches teach that the essence of being saved is simply being a good person. This teaching is very widespread.
Half of all adults believe that “if a person is generally good or does enough good things for others, they will earn a place in heaven.” 40% of adults believe that “All people are eventually saved or accepted by God, no matter what they do, because he loves all people he has created.” What does the Bible say? Let’s just look at one verse that summarizes the Bible’s teaching on the question.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.
So, according to the Bible, a person is saved by God’s grace that we receive through faith. We cannot do enough good works or be good enough to be saved, it is a false hope that we’re going to address today. We also have a book available on the Guest Table called “How Good is Good Enough?” If you’ve never read the book, I encourage you to take a copy and read it. After you read it, give it to a friend who believe if a person if good enough, they’ll earn a place in heaven. Then discuss it with them.
Today, we’re going to look at the second chapter of Romans. Again, I encourage you to read the first three chapters of Romans this week if you haven’t already, to get the most you can out of this message series.
Listen to or watch my September 23, 2012 message What About Good People?