You didn't really think you could earn eternal life by clicking a button on a website did you?

As foolish as that may seem, many people today are convinced that if they just live a certain way or do something good, God will be pleased and will send them to heaven when they die. "I try to live a good life", they say, and "I'm not near as bad as other people I know".

The Bible tells us a lot about eternal life. "Eternal life" (also called "Salvation") means living forever in the presence of God. The Bible also tells us that what we do has no bearing on whether or not we receive eternal life. First of all, the Bible says that God is not impressed by the good things we do:

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

We cannot please God by what we do. No matter how hard we try to be good or to do good, we will always fall short of pleasing God unless we have faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

For the wages of sin is death... (Romans 6:23)

What is "Faith"? Faith is a gift that God gives by which we believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross at Calvary. He paid the price for our sinfulness and took the punishment that we deserve.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Romans 5:1-2)

Eternal life is not something we can earn. It doesn't matter how good you are or how much good you do. What matters is whether or not you have faith, knowing that Jesus died for your sins on the cross and gave you HIS righteousness!

If you want to know more about salvation in Jesus, we'd love to hear from you! Send an email to the Pastor, an Elder, or the webservant.