Some surveys reveal that when asked what will happen after they die, the majority of people will state that they believe that they will go to heaven. Their belief is founded on the claim that they are "good" people. They believe that being "good" is enough to warrant eternal life with God one day. The truth is that being "good" enough to have eternal life with Christ one day is a faulty crutch to stand on. You see, none of us are "good" because all of us have sinned, and that sin has separated us from God.
Jesus taught a man who considered himself to be a good person that none of us are good in Mark 10. In this passage of Scripture, a man asked Him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life” (verse 18). This was a good question. This man understood that there was something different about Jesus. He knew that Jesus could point him toward eternal life. He did not understand, however, that Jesus was the source of life. Before Jesus answered this man’s question, He asked him a question: “Why do you call me good?... Only God is truly good." (verse 18). Of course, Jesus is good. He is, after all, God. This man Jesus spoke to in this passage of Scripture, however, did not understand that Jesus is God. Jesus wanted this man to know that no person is good. That is why we all needed Him to rescue us.
The apostle Paul taught about humanity's sin problem in Romans 3:23. He wrote, "Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Each one of us has sinned. None of us are good because we have been marred by sin. Paul continued teaching in Romans 3 that there is hope for us despite the reality that sin has wreaked havoc on our world and in our lives. He explains further in this passage of Scripture that we can be made right with God through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave. What a promise we have to claim! We have all sinned, but we have a sinless Savior who offers forgiveness and restoration.
In order to experience and understand the restoration and forgiveness that Christ offers, we must first recognize our sin problem. When we understand the gravity of our sins and the gift of God through the death and resurrection of Christ, we can truly understand God's grace and His goodness. We have all sinned, and that sin has devastating effects, but we serve a Savior who is far greater than our sin!
Although we may be tempted to view our sins as insignificant and think of ourselves as “good,” the truth can be found in Jesus’ words, “Only God is truly good” (John 10:18). Because none of us are truly good, it is time for us to confess our sin to God. Take some time to do just that. Confess any sin that you are currently struggling with to God. Tell Him that you are sorry for your sin that has broken His heart. Next, thank Him for Jesus, who rescued us from our sins and conquered sin and death once and for all.
9Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
18 “They have no fear of God at all.”
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
