Short answer: No
Heaven doesn't contain "good" people, it contains forgiven people.
God is holy, God is perfect, and only those who likewise are holy and perfect can enter into his presence.
Humanity is not holy, humanity is not perfect, all of us are flawed, all are sinners.
If God had not intervened with the Incarnation, if the Son of God had not died for our sins and if he had not been raised to life for our justification, the gulf that exists between God, who is holy, and humanity, which is not, would have remained separating us from God forever.
Heaven isn't for "good" people; good isn't good enough, only perfection will work, and since the only way for a human being to be perfect is for God to forgive us, and give us his righteousness (through Christ), the only people who will join God in heaven are those who by faith have been forgiven.
Showing posts with label Perfection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Perfection. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sermon Video - "our citizenship is in heaven" Philippians 3:15-21
Paul begins this last section of his conclusion by reminding the people of Philippi that all mature Christians will eventually agree with him that while perfection is unattainable, the process of striving after Christ-likeness must continue. Paul boldly holds himself up as an example to emulate, but also reminds the people that God has placed good examples of Christian maturity within their own church; heroes are important, but we can find experience and advice close at hand to help us.
Having already proclaimed the need to strive toward Christ-likeness, Paul now concludes by contrasting the "enemies of the cross of Christ" whose focus is upon themselves as evidenced by their minds which "are on earthly things", with those whom God has redeemed whose "citizenship is in heaven". To be citizens of heaven is a bold claim that alters our entire worldview, allowing us to let go of the past (before Christ) and embrace the future which God has in store for each of his own. As citizens of heaven, we eagerly await the return of Christ (no matter how we understand the events of the End Times), when not only the earth will be brought under his dominion, but our own bodies will be restored to the perfection that God originally intended before the Fall. Whatever the future holds, for ourselves, our church, or our nation, our faith rests upon the promises of God, he will one day transform the world, he will on day transform us because we are citizens of heaven.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Having already proclaimed the need to strive toward Christ-likeness, Paul now concludes by contrasting the "enemies of the cross of Christ" whose focus is upon themselves as evidenced by their minds which "are on earthly things", with those whom God has redeemed whose "citizenship is in heaven". To be citizens of heaven is a bold claim that alters our entire worldview, allowing us to let go of the past (before Christ) and embrace the future which God has in store for each of his own. As citizens of heaven, we eagerly await the return of Christ (no matter how we understand the events of the End Times), when not only the earth will be brought under his dominion, but our own bodies will be restored to the perfection that God originally intended before the Fall. Whatever the future holds, for ourselves, our church, or our nation, our faith rests upon the promises of God, he will one day transform the world, he will on day transform us because we are citizens of heaven.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Sermon Video, "to win the prize" Philippians 3:10-14
Having just told the church at Philippi that his past life of self-righteousness is meaningless and his current state of self-sacrifice in the service of the Gospel is not a loss, Paul now explains to them that he has not yet reached the perfect state of Christ-likeness that he, and all of us, must strive for.
That the Apostle Paul admits to be less than perfect is welcome news to those of us who struggle to live up to the high standard of the conduct of Jesus Christ. Not only does it allow us to be honest about our shortcomings, it keeps us from being judgmental toward others because none of us are, or can be, perfect until God finishes that process of transformation beyond the grave.
So what do we do now? If we can't be perfect, does it matter if we try to be better? Paul's answer is an emphatic, "Press on!" We must strive and struggle toward that lofty goal of Christ-likeness, it doesn't matter that we can't get there because God has called us to be soldiers for the Cross, we too must take up spiritual arms and stand against evil, we too must stand with the weak, the outcasts, because we will then be standing where our saviour stood, with the people, that he might save the people.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
That the Apostle Paul admits to be less than perfect is welcome news to those of us who struggle to live up to the high standard of the conduct of Jesus Christ. Not only does it allow us to be honest about our shortcomings, it keeps us from being judgmental toward others because none of us are, or can be, perfect until God finishes that process of transformation beyond the grave.
So what do we do now? If we can't be perfect, does it matter if we try to be better? Paul's answer is an emphatic, "Press on!" We must strive and struggle toward that lofty goal of Christ-likeness, it doesn't matter that we can't get there because God has called us to be soldiers for the Cross, we too must take up spiritual arms and stand against evil, we too must stand with the weak, the outcasts, because we will then be standing where our saviour stood, with the people, that he might save the people.
To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video
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