Bible Reading: James 2:18
Doing “good things” won’t save you from your sin. Doing good things can’t get you into heaven or give you eternal life.
To go to heaven, a person must:
Believe Jesus died and rose from the dead to take the punishment for his sins.
Ask God to forgive his sins.
Give God control of his life.
That’s what is means to be “saved from sin.”
So…Why do good things? James 2:18 explains why Christians should do good things saying, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” That means that once a person is saved, he wants to do good things. Doing good things won’t make him any more saved. Those good things are simply a way of thanking God and showing God’s love and forgiveness to other people. Doing good things is the evidence that we are saved.
Don’t try to try to earn your way to heaven! Instead, ask God to forgive your sins. Accept Jesus’ death as the penalty for your sin. Ask Jesus to put His Spirit in your heart so you will be to show Jesus, The Way to heaven, to other people through the good things you do.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe Jesus is The Way – the only way – to heaven. Save me and help me to show others The Way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.