Will Good People Go to Heaven? Sermon 4-21-19


Video

Why Good People Won’t Go to Heaven Romans 10:1-4 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[b] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.   “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).   Will good people go to heaven?

  1. Because You Can Never Be Good Enough.

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved” (v. 1).   “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Good people don’t go to heaven–not even good people from other religions–because no one can be good enough.   

  1. Because Good People Are Deceived About The Reality of Their True Condition.

  “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge” (v. 2). Religion tends to turn people into failures, hypocrites or both. Isaiah 64:6  “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” 

  1. Because Good People Think They Don’t Need Jesus.

“Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (vv. 3-4). they came up with one of their own  

  1. Because Good People Wouldn’t Be Happy If They Did Go to Heaven.

  Are You a Good Person? Please accept my compliments on the good life you’ve been living. Every society needs fine people like you. Are you saved? Can a good person go to heaven? Yes, if he is willing to turn away from his goodness and trust Jesus Christ for his eternal salvation. As long as you cling to the slightest shred of your goodness, you’ll never see the gates of heaven. Once you let go of the rags of your own righteousness, you can be saved.