No One Is Good Enough

 

        There are a lot of good people in hell. The only righteous people in hell are the self-righteous who believed themselves "good enough" to go to heaven on their own merits. But no one is "good enough" to go to heaven on their own. We all need The Savior God provided to get us into the eternal presence of God. And we all need the Spirit of God to make us ready to meet God. That Savior is Jesus Christ The Only Begotten Son of God. And that Spirit is The Holy Spirit of God.

 THE FIRST RICH MAN

   In the parable of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-31), we learn that we must be willing to surrender -give up- all that we think we need in order to obtain that which we most need: salvation through Jesus Christ. 

    In Romans 3:10, Paul is writing to the young church in Rome, reminding them that no one is righteous on their own merits. Nothing any of us can do will gain us entrance into God's presence. Regardless of nationality (vs 9), everyone is unrighteous until we believe The Word of Truth which the gospel Is. 

    Jesus even tells us Himself that He is the Way into God's presence (John 14:6) and the Door/Gate (John 10:9). Without the righteousness of Jesus Christ covering our sins we will never be good enough to enter into God's eternal presence and remain there with Him. 

THE OTHER RICH MAN

    Luke 16:19-31 tells us of a different rich man. An arrogant, self-centered, self-righteous man who not only knew there was a beggar parked outside his gates, but he knew the beggar's name was Lazarus, though it appears they never interacted. Rich men have other men do for them what needs to be done, including finding out about other people. 

    Anyway, both men die around the same time. But one goes to hell while the other goes to Paradise (for heaven's entrance was not yet opened to the general public, Christ not having died and risen yet). Both have all their faculties intact. 

    We know this because they can see each other, hear each other. Each has all their senses and intellect. While Lazarus is resting comfortably in Abraham's arms, the rich man is miserable and will remain so until hell is destroyed (Revelation 20:14).

    Yet, the rich man does not speak to Lazarus. Though both are dead, the rich man still deems Lazarus beneath him and instead directs his conversation towards Abraham, whom he sees as a worthy conversant; expecting his demands to be met, but not expecting to have his wishes ignored. 

    In both heaven and hell people can still think, still hear, still smell, still talk, still see, still taste, still hunger, still thirst. They are aware of their surroundings and very much aware that they cannot leave. The people in heaven do not want to leave. Both want their loved ones to avoid hell, but neither can do anything about it. 

ONLY YOU AND I

    The only one who can pray themselves out of hell and into heaven is the individual who still roams this earth on the topside. Only you and I can repent of our sins. Only you and I can read The Holy Bible for ourselves and choose to obey God here and now. 

    Only you and I can believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. That Jesus was buried in a tomb and rose after three days. Only you and I can celebrate our redemption through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, after we repent, believe and receive. Only you and I can pursue God in this life He has given us to live. 

    Only you and I can ask God's Holy Spirit to make us holy enough where "good enough" will not work. The people in hell have wasted their opportunities to obtain grace. God did not send them there: they entered hell willingly because they chose to disregard God's grace in their lifetimes. 

    There's only one Door, one Way, to God and His Name is Jesus. I've made this decision to enter that Door and walk in that Way. Have you? No fancy prayers are needed. Just kneel before God, repent (confess your sins to Him and turn away from doing those things) and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, is God's only begotten Son and be baptized. Ask for His Holy Spirit to help you live a born again life, for that is what is happening: you are being born again by water and by Spirit into the kingdom of God. 

    Eternal life is a born again life. I'm living that life. The life I used to live I no longer live for I have Christ living in me and The Holy Spirit of God moving through me to fulfill God's purpose, God's will, for my life. 

    

    THE GOSPEL

The Gospel - Ryan Stevenson

 The Gospel - Eric Ludy

There Is One Gospel - CityAlight

 His Name Is Jesus - Jeremy Riddle

King of Glory - Third Day

 Washed By The Blood - CityAlight

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

    BILLY GRAHAM: NO OTHER WAY

Thanks Be To God - - Because He Is Good

 

Ezra 3:11

And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Mark 10:18

And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2896 (Old Testament)

Good: good, kind, benign

From the Hebrew word tobe (pronounced tobe)

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 18

Good: intrinsically good, good in nature; upright, honorable; kind, benevolent

From the Greek word agathos (pronounced ag-ath-os'), which means:

Describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in the believer's life, through faith.

The goodness of God towards mankind is expressed through His mercy, which, as the Word reveals, Endures Forever. God's goodness to us is extended to us by the right arm of His Righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. 

Psalm 118:16

Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.

Psalm 98:1

A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory.

Exodus 6;6

Therefore tell the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.'

And how was the goodness of God put into action? 

THE PROPHECY

Psalm 22:18

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

THE PROPHECY FULFILLED:

John 19:23, 24

(23) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

(24) So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it." This was to fulfill the Scripture: "They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing." So that is what the soldiers did.

THE PROPHECY

Psalm 22:16

For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.

Zechariah 12:10

Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

PROPHECY FULFILLED

John 20:24, 25

(24) Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 

(25) So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”

Though we who are alive in this age have not seen the nail marks in Christ's hands, we still believe. Did you know Jesus prayed for you, for me, in the garden of Gethsemane just before He died? 

John 17:20-24

(20) I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

(23) I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.

(24) Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Isn't that just the loveliest prayer you ever heard? Jesus prayed for us to know Him, for us who had not yet been born to be born again by believing the word that His disciples would spread across the nations. And it has nearly covered the globe, yet not all nations have heard the gospel message of saving grace through Jesus Christ. 
But there is coming a day when that happens and when it does, watch out. And be afraid if you are not saved. But those of us who have believed God's Word and received it into our hearts and lives have nothing to be afraid of at all. Even now, we are fearless, boldly proclaiming The Word of Truth to all. 

THE WARNING TO BELIEVERS

Mark 13:9-13

(9) So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.

(10) And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.

(11) But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

(12) Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

(13) You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13, 14

(13) But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 

(14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The beginning of the end begins when the gospel message has been proclaimed, declared, shared with, preached to EVERY NATION. That means every culture and subculture within nations. Every dialect, every language: spoken and unspoken. Every continent, every country, every state, every province, every city, every town, every home, every person will have heard the gospel of saving grace through Jesus Christ and will have had an opportunity to believe and receive the Word of faith into their hearts. "...then the end will come." 

Don't let this message pass you by. To day is your day of salvation, as the Word says. This is a NOW message, not a later message. Later, tomorrow, is not promised. In fact, our next breath is not even promised. The believer lives by faith in the promises of God. Because God Is Good and His Mercy Endures Forever. 

Dear God,

I love You so much. Thank You for saving me, for loving me with Your great love. Thank You for covering me with Your affections and mercies. Thank You, Father, for giving Your Word to us. Help us to be found good and faithful servants in Your kingdom. 

You are  the only Good God, the only Holy God, whose very presence demands a holy people. Guide us through Your Holy Word as we eagerly and hungrily seek You out. Reveal Yourself to us, Lord God, and give us a vision and a work to do in Your kingdom.

Help us to reach every nation for Your glory and honor. Teach our hands to do Your work. Plant our feet on the path You would have us to walk. Open our eyes that we may see; give us discernment in Your Holy Spirit that we may divide Truth from deception. Open our ears to hear the Word of Truth being spoken, that it may take root in our hearts and bear fruit for You. 

Oh, God, fill us with Your sweet Holy Spirit, empowering us to fulfill Your purpose, Your perfect will in these last days before Your return to take us home, the home which You have prepared for us. 

Be glorified, Father, receive glory and honor and praise from our hearts and our lips and our outstretched arms. 

In Jesus' Precious Name, I pray,

Amen

How He Loves by The David Crowder Band

Thank You For The Blood by Charity Gayle

My Soul Longs For You by Jesus Culture

Thanks Be To God -- For His Loving Devotion

 

Psalm 107:1

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2617

Loving Devotion: goodness, kindness, mercy

Again, here in this verse, the word thanks is rendered from the Hebrew word 'yadah'. Once more we are reminded to throw up our hands/arms in thanks giving and praise. We are to cast our hands before us in worship. Why? Because God is Good.

GOD IS GOOD

2 Chronicles 5:13

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They lifted up their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: "For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever." And the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud. 

2 Chronicles 7:3

When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: "For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever."

Matthew 19:17

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Psalm 25:8

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.

HIS LOVING DEVOTION ENDURES FOREVER

Psalm 100:5

For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 530

Faithfulness: firmness, steadfastness, fidelity, truth, stability

Psalm 86:5

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Exodus 20:6

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Exodus 34:6, 7

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” 

Daniel 9:9

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him.

Psalm 130:4

But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Psalm 103:17

But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children's children.

Dear God,

Thank You for extending Your mercies to me and to my children and to their children. Turn the hearts of those who have left You back to You. In this day there are many that attempt to fully dissuade them from Your lovingkindesses and Your Word. 

As the lyricist says, "Break our hearts for what breaks Yours." Lead us and guide us into and through the Truth of Your Word that we may truly see You and know You as You want to be seen and known by us. 

Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place, washing away our sins and forgiving us of all our unrighteousness. Grow Your Word in us that we may truly be seen as Trees of Righteousness: unbending, not wavering, but carrying the Strength of the Lord within us wherever You plant us.
Thank You for being a Loving God and for loving me.

In Jesus' Name, I pray,

Amen

Jesus, Friend of Sinner by Casting Crowns