The funeral home was filled with family, friends, and members of the local church. Soft music played as people gathered to remember Robert Mitchell, a man who had spent his life helping others. He had been a faithful church attendee, donated money to charities, visited people in the hospital, and volunteered whenever the church needed a helping hand.
Pastor James stood behind the pulpit and began the eulogy.
“Robert was a good man,” he said. “He attended church every Sunday, gave generously, and helped anyone who needed him. He was a wonderful example to this community. I am sure we will all remember him fondly.”
As the service ended, people spoke quietly about Robert’s kindness. Some said he had certainly earned his place in Heaven because of all the good things he had done.
Standing near the back of the room was Michael Turner, a longtime friend of Robert’s. Michael had attended church with Robert for years, but he remembered something that troubled him. He could recall countless conversations about church activities, charitable donations, and helping people, but he had rarely heard Robert speak about his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
On the drive home, Michael thought about the funeral. He knew that Robert had done many wonderful things, but he also knew that being a good person and being saved were not the same thing.
The following Wednesday evening, Michael went to church and asked Pastor James if they could talk.
“Pastor, can I ask you something that has been weighing on my heart?”
“Of course,” the pastor replied.
Michael took a deep breath. “At Robert’s funeral, everyone talked about his good works. He helped people, gave money, and attended church. But what about his relationship with Jesus? Can good works really get someone into Heaven?”
Pastor James sat quietly for a moment before opening his Bible.
“Michael, that is an important question. Good works are valuable, and God wants us to help others. But the Bible teaches that good works cannot purchase our salvation.”
He turned to Ephesians 2:8-9 and read from the King James Version: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. “Do you understand what that means?” the pastor asked.
Michael nodded slowly. “It means we cannot earn salvation, no matter how many good things we do.”
“That’s right,” Pastor James answered. “We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Good works should be the fruit of our faith, not a payment for Heaven.”
The pastor continued, “Think about what Jesus said in John 14:6: ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ Jesus did not say that charitable donations, church attendance, or religious activities were the way to Heaven. He said that He is the way.”
Michael leaned forward. “Then what must a person do to be saved?”
Pastor James turned to Romans 6:23 and read: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Every one of us has sinned,” the pastor explained. “Our good deeds cannot erase our sin. That is why Jesus came into this world. He willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose again. Salvation is God’s gift to everyone who places their faith in Him.”
Michael looked down at his hands. “I have spent years trying to be a good person. I attend church, help my neighbors, and give when I can. But sometimes I wonder whether I am doing enough to please God.”
Pastor James gently replied, “Michael, the question isn’t whether you have done enough good works to earn Heaven. The question is whether you have trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. Good works matter, but they cannot take the place of faith in Him.”
He opened his Bible once more and read Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Michael sat silently, allowing the words to sink into his heart. For the first time, he understood that Christianity was not about building a record of good deeds and hoping that the good outweighed the bad. It was about recognizing his need for a Saviour and trusting in what Jesus had already done.
“Pastor,” Michael said quietly, “I don’t want to depend on my own goodness anymore. I want to put my faith in Jesus Christ.”
Pastor James bowed his head with Michael, and together they prayed. Michael confessed his sins, asked the Lord for forgiveness, and placed his trust in Jesus Christ.
When they finished, the pastor reminded him of 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Michael left the church that evening with a new understanding. He still intended to help his neighbors, support his church, and give to those in need. But now he understood that these things were not his ticket to Heaven. They were ways to demonstrate his love for the Lord.
Over the following weeks, Michael began sharing this message with others. He told them that church attendance alone could not save them, charitable giving could not pay for their sins, and religious activities could never replace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
He often reminded people of Ephesians 2:10, which explains that believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Good works have an important place in the Christian life, but they follow salvation rather than earn it.
One Sunday morning, Michael stood before his Sunday school class and said, “Friends, if we were standing before God today, would we point to our good deeds and say we deserve Heaven? Or would we point to Jesus Christ and say that we have trusted Him as our Saviour?”
He paused and continued, “Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us. We cannot earn what He freely offers. We can only come to Him in faith.”
Then Michael shared the words of Ephesians 2:8 once again: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
My friend, how about you? If someone stood at your funeral and spoke about your life, they might mention your kindness, generosity, church attendance, and good works. Those things may be wonderful, but they cannot save your soul.
The Bible does not teach that we earn our way into Heaven by being good enough. It teaches that we are sinners in need of God’s grace, and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, don’t depend on your good works or religious activities. Turn to Him in repentance and faith. Confess your sins, believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and trust Him for salvation.
Remember the words of John 14:6 (KJV): “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
You cannot work your way to Heaven. You must trust the One who gave His life to open the way. Good works cannot save you, but a life changed by God’s grace will show the difference He has made.
Please… if you don’t know Christ or have fallen away, please pray… Tell God you believe His Son Jesus paid for your sins and rose again. Tell God you are sorry and want to start Living for Him. He will forgive your sins and mistakes and give you Everlasting Life with Him… and place His Spirit deep within your heart. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
I pray that God will truly Help and Bless you. If you would like for me to pray with you, please email me at Bob.L@magnificentPromises.com.
May God bless you as you seek Him and grow in His Word. Bob
I thank you for reading my blog. I do not claim to be any expert or affiliated with any religious organization. All I can say is that I’m affiliated with my Lord Jesus Christ. This is one man’s opinion and observations. My hope is I stirred up some thoughts for you to think about. There is one place that we can find all the answers to life. That road map is Commonly known as the Bible. If you want the answers to life all you have to do is read. If you would like me to pray with you or want to send a comment, please email me at Bob.L@magnificentpromises.com
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
