By John R. Funk

Being told that you are not good enough to get into heaven may be one of the most distressing, disconcerting statements that you could face. Most people will take it to be an absolute insult, a slanderous statement impugning their character. The first thought that flashes through your mind if someone says this to you is, “Just who do you think you are?” or “What gives you the right to say that?”

Most people would like to believe that they are basically good. I daresay that on the whole most people commit more good acts than bad acts. On the great scales of justice that people keep in their own minds, the good acts probably outweigh the bad acts. However, that is not the scale or the standard that determines what is good and what is bad in God’s sight.

16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." Matt. 19:16-17 (NIV)

God’s justice is perfect and sin is sin; there are no lesser sins or greater sins before God. There is just sin, whether it be murder or a “little white lie.” Unfortunately for mankind, one sin outweighs every good deed performed during one’s life. The reason is that man’s standard is not God’s standard. God’s standard is perfection and no one can meet that standard, save One.

Before anyone starts feeling like their lifestyle or life choices are being called into question, let me be perfectly clear about the presupposing statement, i.e. you are not good enough to get into heaven – neither am I. I make no apologies or excuses for what I am about to say – no one is good enough to get into heaven. That includes you, me, any relative that we might have (including my sainted grandmothers), the Pope or even Mother Theresa. I am not besmirching anyone’s character when I say such a thing. The reason is that I am not the one who said it. Jesus Christ said it.

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NIV)

There is no clearer statement contained in scripture than this claim. Jesus clearly stated that He was the resurrection (from death, both physical and spiritual) and the life. He then goes on to make an assertion that has made Him the “stumbling block” for non-believers. He leaves no doubt about what He means: if you believe in Him, you will live and never die. And then He challenges not just Martha with this direct question but He also challenges us – do you believe?

In a subsequent chapter of John, Jesus goes on to reemphasize His role in history and the importance of that role. It is a role that identifies Christ according to His purpose.

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)

In John 14:6, Jesus was responding to Thomas after Thomas had asked Him which way Christ's disciples were to go to enter His Father's house since they did not know where Jesus was going. Jesus’ answer was much deeper than Thomas anticipated with his original question. Jesus never made a statement regarding a spiritual matter unless He intended to convey spiritual truth and this was no exception. In this particular instance His reply was extremely significant, given whom He was addressing and the culture of the time.

In Jewish culture under Mosaic law, the way to God was through the Levitical priesthood who sacrificed and interceded on behalf of the Jewish people. There was not a direct connection to God Almighty for the individual; that right was reserved specifically for the priesthood. In point of fact, the only person allowed to enter the Holy of Holies was the high priest of Israel. No one else was allowed this privilege and honor. Jesus now said that no one comes to God except through Him. This was a statement that was absolutely exclusive while at the same time totally inclusive for those who believed.

Jesus also made a statement in John 14:6 that has proven to be controversial throughout the ages. He said that He was “the way, the truth and the life.” He did not say that He was a way or another way to get to God. He did not say that He was the way and then you had to do other stuff along with it. He said that He was the only way to get to God. This was an absolutely inflammatory statement not only for that time but for the present. If you do not believe me, try telling someone that Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain salvation and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. You will find out what I mean.

This line of thought is continued in a very familiar passage that seems to show up at sporting events, typically near the end zone of football games. You guessed it – John 3:16. Christians know this verse word for word and many non-Christians are familiar with it. It has not only become familiar at sporting events but seems to have become a moniker in contemporary times. How often do we see a name with the notation “3:16” following it? This particular Bible verse is probably the most frequently quoted passage of scripture in the Bible. What is often not quoted are the two verses that follow.

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18 (NIV)

This passage ties directly in with Christ’s statement that He was the only way to get to God. In fact, it is clear and unequivocal in its expression that absent belief “in the name of God’s one and only Son”, one stands condemned. The reason God sent His Son into the world was not to condemn it but rather to save it! The way to be saved is then specified; it is belief which is an act of faith.

What did this expression of belief or act predicated upon faith really mean? What did one have to really do to inherit eternal life? Jesus addressed this very issue with an educated man of the time who was also part of the religious and political hierarchy.

3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' John 3:1-8 (NIV)

Nicodemus did not initially understand what it was to be “born again.” This phraseology is common in our culture today but the question raised is whether people, just like Nicodemus, truly understand what it means. When Jesus said that one must be born again, He was talking about a spiritual rebirth, a time of repentance or turning away, a new life, if you will, based upon the express belief in Him (Jesus Christ) as the Son of God and all that implies.

Many in these end times have a problem with the idea that belief in Jesus Christ is enough to save one from eternal damnation. What could we have done to deserve this? The answer, of course, is that we did nothing to deserve it.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph. 2:8-10 (NIV)

God’s grace or unmerited favor is the only reason why we have the opportunity to enter into His mansion and avoid the depths of hell. Clearly, this passage in verses 8 and 9 demonstrates that salvation is a gift from God. We cannot earn our way into heaven (that one really gives some people problems). We do not deserve to get into heaven. The reason behind this passage is quite simple: if Christ died for our sins but we still have to do something to get into heaven, then His sacrifice was insufficient. To believe otherwise is a “salvation plus” theology. Wasn’t Christ God in the flesh? Weren’t His final words on the cross, “It is finished”? What else could be left to do?

The issue of works is addressed in verse 10 above. We are God’s workmanship, created to do good works and God prepared those works in advance for us to do. As illustrated above, works follow salvation, not the other way around. Why do we or why should we want to do good works? The answer is that we love Jesus and we, as believers, want our lives to reflect the love of Christ. Works are acts of service performed for the purpose of honoring our Savior. We are not trying to earn our way into heaven because that is a price that we can never pay; it was paid by the only One who could. That person was Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God.

Does all of this really mean that I can never be good enough to get into heaven on my own? That is exactly what it means. Thank goodness for that truth. I never have to worry about where the line is drawn; my good acts do not have to outweigh my bad acts before God’s eyes. The price has been paid in full. That price was paid by Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is a message that must be shared with everyone before it is too late and God calls us home to be with Him.

Before the Rapture happens, I want to give this gift, the most important gift that I could give, to my family, my friends, my loved ones and anyone else I possibly can. It costs me nothing to give but its value is priceless. I can think of nothing more valuable to give, especially in these trying times. I hope you feel the same way.