Man is by nature filled with pride and self righteousness. When you talk to the average person about going to heaven, the usual response is, “I am sure that I am going to heaven because I have never murdered anyone or…..” You know the rest of the story.

But God sees our condition in an altogether different light. Scripture declares that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) The Holy Spirit’s biopsy of mankind’s spiritual condition is not very good (Romans 3:10-18). In fact, we are born “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and living our lives for our own selfish pleasures instead of the will of God (1 Peter 4:2). If we think that being religious is a ticket to heaven, we need to think again (Philippians 3:4-9). If we think that believing in God means we are automatically heaven-bound, we’re wrong (Psalm 14:1, 53:1; James 2:19). Oh how blinded we can be by our religion and good works (Luke 18:9-14)!

The truth of the matter is that we cannot save ourselves. No amount of good works or religion can take away the sin debt that we owe to God. That is the bad news. But here is the good news: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16,17) God so loved us that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross as full payment for our sin debt (1 John 2:2, 4:10).

That is what God has done for you and for me. However, it is not until we verbally confess the Lord Jesus, and truly believe that God has raised Him from the dead, that we are saved (Romans 10:9). Head knowledge of Jesus does not save anybody. We are not saved because of correct information, but by divine regeneration (Titus 3:5-7). Salvation is God’s gracious provision for undeserving, unrighteous mankind in and through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

In Revelation 20:7-15 we read the sobering account of Judgment Day and the eternal verdict that is given to any person who rejects Jesus Christ and the gospel that bears His Name. Do not be deceived by your alleged “goodness”, my friend. All of your good works will go up in smoke! Extend your hand of faith, trust in the sure righteousness of Jesus Christ and be saved (Romans 3:20-28).