How good is good enough?
(from a sermon by Andy Stanley)
Surely there is more than one way to get to Heaven. Jesus said the only way to the Father was through the Son. But surely, there must be more than one way.

Oprah says there is. She says that in our goodness we can all “get there” and while one might call it “God” the next might call it “the light” but either way, we can all get there in any way we choose through our “loving, kindness and generosity”

What idea supports this belief that “good” people go to heaven?
Good Buddhists, good Muslims, good Jews – the common denominator is not our belief system or how we pray or worship…it is that we are good people.

Good dad, good person doing good deeds.

We like this way of thinking. Why? Because we’re all good.
1. It is a fair system – good things happen to good people
2. You’ll make the cut – because after all, you’re good.
3. This system motivates you to be good
4. It is a very consistent view of a good God – good God, good Heaven filled with good people. It is logical, practical and makes common sense.

But there some major problems with this system

1. There is no clear standard of good and bad so we can check our progress.
No scale. No test scores. Doesn’t God owe us a clear hurdle to get over? So we pull the bible out “Love your neighbor as yourself, love the Lord, be kind, be obedient..” It’s all in there…I’m living according to the Good book. Good God, good Heaven, good people.

The problem is even if we were all living by our own internal scale and gauge – there is no consensus. We have no earthly idea of what “good” is.

2. We don’t know where the cut is
50% 70% 85% what do I have to score to get in?
When does the counting start? At age 6, 16 or 40?
Do some sins count more against me than others?

Many people think Christianity is unfair because some people won’t hear the Gospel

You know what….so is the “good people system”.

It is like a teacher starting the school year saying, “There is one test at the end of the year and it is pass/fail. You’re dismissed.” And you say, “Wait…are there no notes to take?” Nope. “Is there anything we can read?” Nope. “Is there anyone who has gone before us that we can talk to?” Nope.

“You mean you are going to test us on material you’ve never covered, never explained to us, never taught us and we’re supposed to figure out what it takes to pass?”
Yep. Class dismissed.

The same is true of the “good” system – you have made up the rules. You’ve decided what is good. After all, you are good.

Here is what the Bible says…
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23
“There is not one righteous. Not even one.” Rom 3:10
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the Law – rather through the Law, we have become conscious of sin.” Rom 3:20

Oh, OK …”I’ll keep the 10 commandments…that’s good and if I do, I’ll get into Heaven.”
Did you know that in that whole part of the Bible when God gives Moses the 10 Commandments and Moses brings them down to the people…there is not one mention of the word “Heaven” or “Eternal Life”?

Oh, OK….”I’ll just do my best to do what is right. I have this innate sense of what is right. That’s what God will look at.”

Major wars have been fought over what two sides thought was “right”

150 years ago, many Americans thought slavery was “right” and they even would quote scripture to back their argument.

The Nazis thought what they were doing to the Jews was “right”

We chased the Indians off their land because we came here to pursue religious freedom and we thought we were “right”

3. It makes a liar of Jesus
Jesus taught that “bad” people go to Heaven and “good” people don’t. The good people washed a certain way, ate certain foods, kept all the rules. Jesus walked around forgiving the people who didn’t keep the rules.

Jesus taught that “good” people don’t go to Heaven. Forgiven ones do. Go read Luke 23:32-43 -- read how Jesus dealt with the criminal on the cross next to him.

Jesus taught – everyone is welcome, everyone gets in the same way and everyone can meet the requirement. The requirement is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Whoever “really tries hard”?
Whoever is “really good”?
Whoever “keeps the 10 commandments”?

NO. Whoever believes in Christ.

Being a Christian is all about placing all my trust in what Christ has already done. He said on the Cross… “It is finished”. It’s done. I can’t add to it. It’s not about me being good.

ALL that is needed has already been done on my behalf.

Christianity isn’t about being good. It is about understanding I am forgiven.