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Galatians 2:16 - "…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." NASU
We are not going to be allowed entrance into Heaven because of our "good deeds". In 1964 J. Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers had a hit song entitled "Last Kiss" I have included some of the lyrics of the song: Well, where oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me. She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good, So I can see my baby when I leave this world. These lyrics may be romantic but theologically they are horrible. God gets blamed for taking her away because of his carelessness while driving. Then he has to be good to get to heaven to see her. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. You CAN NOT be good enough to get to heaven. No one and I mean no one is going to get to Heaven because of their good works and if you try, you will fail.
Here is how one of my college Professors, Jack Cottrell, explains justification: [The meaning of justification: It is the same as having the debt of penalty for your sins forgiven. It is a legal term. It refers to standing before the Judge of the universe in the divine courtroom and having him declare, “NO PENALTY FOR YOU!” This happens not only on the future Judgment Day. It is happening now, and will be happening throughout our lives as believers. This is why we have assurance of salvation. We know we are justified; we know our sins are forgiven. It is not a question of how good we are, but how forgiven we are. It is hearing God say, “No penalty for you! No condemnation for you (Rom. 8:1)! No hell for you! No fear for you!”]
The choice is ours. We can depend on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ or we can do like the lyrics of the songs says try being good enough for God to allow us entrance into Heaven. Gal 3:24-27 - Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. The people who try to obey laws are trying to get to Heaven on their own merits. Paul says the purpose of the Law was to lead us to Christ and it is our faith in Jesus that will bring about our Justification. Think About This: Choice, not chance, determines your destiny. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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1 Corinthians 2:9 - However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— NIV
No More Pain, No More Sorrow, No More Tears, No More Temptations and No More Suffering, but I am here to say it is going to be all of that and much much more. Our eyes have NOT seen what Heaven is going to be like. Our ears have NOT heard all the joyous noises and praises to God that will be there. Our minds have NOT even begun to conceive how awesome Heaven will be. Go ahead I challenge you today to sit somewhere very quiet where you can't be disturbed and try with all your mental strength to conceive how great you believe Heaven is going to be and I am going to tell you right now: You Don't Even Come Close to how great it will be.
When you listen to people speak about Heaven that is generally what we hear them say. They tell us, "They can't wait to be reunited with their loved ones that have preceded them in death." I am not trying to be argumentative here but being reunited with one of your loved ones will not be the big hurrah. Oh, don't get me wrong it will be amazing, but you must remember we are going to be changed. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 - Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. NASU We are going to be changed. We are no longer going to be mortal human beings. We are going to be immortal. We will have put on immortality. We will never ever be capable of dying again because "death" our enemy has been defeated by Jesus Christ. We are on His Team. Therefore, we likewise will share in all the victories of Jesus. Amazing! Absolutely, Positively Amazing will be our next life. It is going to be so awesome, it will be beyond your wildest dreams. Our puny mortal brains can't even conceive how great Heaven will be.
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— Just let that passage roll around in your brain all day. Think On This: Heaven is a state of Thankfulness for having received what we did not deserve, and for not receiving what we did deserve. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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