Not By Works!
READ: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
Brian was an all-around great guy. He was nice to everyone and went to church every Sunday. He even volunteered at a nursing home. One day Brian didn't feel well. After a few weeks of not getting better, he went to the doctror. There he was told that he had a terminal illness and that he had only a few months to live. His pastor came to visit, and the first thing he asked Brian was, "Do you deserve to go to heaven?"
Brian thought for a second, and answered, "Of course! I go to church every Sunday, I'm always kind to everyone, and I volunteer at a nursing home."
Much to Brian's surprise, his pastor answered. "If that is all you have, then you're not going to heaven."
What Brian didn't understand is that we don't get to heaven by what we do on our own. We get to heaven by God's love for us and the faith the Holy Spirit gives us. That is why even a murderer can go to heaven if they truly repent of their sins and believe. As Romans 4:3 says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Therefore, only through belief will we be justified.
Thankfully, Brian's pastor showed him the way to heaven before it was too late. Brian died with the knowledge that he was going to heaven because of his faith in Jesus alone.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: If works don't get us to heaven, why should we do good works? Why can't we earn our own way to heaven? Why might we be tempted to think our own works will get us to heaven.
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Be thankful to God for giving us heaven with no strings attached. Ask Him to remind us that we are not perfect, and that our works, no matter how hard we try, will not save us.