Do Good Deeds Really Outweigh Sin?

"I'm religious and I do good deeds..."

I was watching a movie "God's Courtroom" in which an attorney goes through what God's courtroom will be like on the day of judgement. It got me thinking, many times I have heard that good deeds will outweigh our sins. As much as we may want to believe that, it isn't true. As much as I'd love to throw on a cap and fly under my own power, and I really would love to, it is not going to happen.

What Does God Say About It?

In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus says, "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name and in Your Name drive out demons and in Your Name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers." It doesn't matter how religious we are or how much good we do if we don't admit our sin, accept Christ's pardon, and follow Him.

Isaiah 64:6 says, "...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." God is compassionate and full of love, however, He is also 100% just. He has a standard and all of our good deeds are like rags compared to His standard to enter Heaven. His standard is perfection. Any sin at all is all it takes to be convicted and no longer be able to enter Heaven. Even in our American court system, we don't tell the judge about all the good things we've done. Either we committed the crime or we didn't and we know that the wages of sin is death. Sin equals eternity in Hell regardless of how religious we may be.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)

 

So What Do We Do?

Does this mean that good deeds are worthless? Not at all! James 2:15-17 says, "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Jesus, God Himself, said in John 14:6, "... I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus came to die in our place and take our penalty for our sins. We have a pardon in Jesus Christ and the only way to Heaven is to except that pardon, admit that we are sinners and have fallen short of His standard, and follow His will. In Christ taking our place, the penalty is paid, God remains just, yet still He finds a way to show us His never ending love for us.

It doesn't matter how religious we are. In fact, Jesus was battling the religious pharisees while He was with us in flesh! We must admit that we have sinned and disobeyed God and, in doing so, we have fallen short of God's standard. We must accept Christ's pardon and follow His will.

 

    The only way to Heaven is through Christ.

Love God, love people.

-Chris