Myth, 42

~ If I Do Good I’ll Be Okay ~

Common Misconception  ~  If the good in my life outweighs the bad in my life I’ll make it to heaven.  God grades individuals on the curve, I just need to be above the cut-off point. 

The Great Religion Divide  ~  In all religions, except Christianity, doing good is a significant part of success with god.  In Christianity, the Bible makes it clear that no amount of good works will ever earn God’s favor or a place in heaven.  Christianity properly understood is not a religion but a relationship with a living Savior. 

The Fallacy  ~  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  If a bank robber pleaded with the judge that because there are thousands of banks and he only robbed one of them he is not guilty—he’s better than career bank-robbers the judge would quickly dismiss his argument!  Judges do not grade on the curve!

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The Critical Difference  ~  In all religions there is an element of DO versus Christianity recognizes that it is all DONE on the Cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ.  “For by grace [something good you did not deserve] you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Jesus Christ declared, “It [salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Jesus Christ lived the sinless life that we could not live and He died the death, in our place, that we deserve.

Question for Pre-Christians  ~  Why not make your final destiny heaven today?  “And Jesus said to him [one of the thieves on the Cross next to Jesus], ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:43). 

Question for Christians  ~  Are you becoming more holy or staying conformed to this world?  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).  “We do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). 

Closing Comments  ~  Chapter 2 of the Book of James in the Bible makes it clear that as a Christian good works are a natural result of your faith—not the basis of your faith.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

“Good” Friday?

~ The Day Christ Was Crucified ~

Christ Warned His Disciples  ~  “Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.’  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:30-32). 

Christ Did What He Warned  ~  A very cruel and painful death by crucifixion.  But, Jesus knew what He was doing: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’  Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:28-30). 

Death Was Victory  ~  Because of Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary we can be reconciled to God!  Because of Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary we can obtain salvation!  But we must put our faith in His work on our behalf.  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Bible Answer, 71

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

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~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

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question:  How many Hebrew kings offered their own children as burnt sacrifices?

answer:  Two: Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:3) and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:6).

“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done.  For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals.  He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree” (2 Chronicles 28:1-4).

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.  And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.  He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, ‘In Jerusalem I will put My name.’  And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.  Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums.  He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.  He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord had said to David and to Solomon his son, ‘In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; and I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers — only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.’ But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel” (2 Kings 21:1-9).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .