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If we are good,
why do we need forgiveness to have a
relationship with God?
| First, realize our
ideas of love, goodness and sacrifice are far below God’s. It would be arrogant and
foolish to think our ideas are superior to the God of the Universe (like thinking a cake
you baked had a better understanding of the World than you). God clarifies that sin means
not only physical sin but mentally sinning as well [Mt 5:27-28]. He further clarifies that
no human is good enough to enter a perfect heaven on his own [Rom 3:23]. The only
acceptable choice is a choice of love, AND FORGIVENESS, through the sacrifice of his Son,
Jesus. Does that mean God doesn’t want us to do good? Of course not. He modeled how
to be good through Jesus. God tells us in the Bible that our goodness (becoming
Christ-like) will occur as we request forgiveness and accept his Lordship. Certainly, many
will make the choice to be what humans consider good - even for a lifetime. But
understand, that "goodness" is only relative to what we know as good and bad.
God’s standards are MUCH higher (they should be). That means some hardened criminals
will be in heaven because they eventually turned to Christ. Others who did
"good" all their life will go to hell because they never expressed love for God
by accepting Jesus. Fair to us?...no. Fair to God... yes! By "thumbing our nose"
at God, and NOT acknowledging his communication of love to us, we are implying we know
more than God. |
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