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A few years ago I received an excellent e-mail that illustrates the very point the passage makes here. You can’t be right with God aside from accepting what Christ has done for you. In the story a man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at he Pearly Gates and says, "Here’s how it works. You need 1000 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done and I give you points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 1000 points you get in." "Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same wonderful woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." "That’s wonderful," says St. Peter, "That’s worth 3 points!" "Three Points, the man yells?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported it’s ministry with my tithe and service." "Terrific!" says Peter. "That’s certainly worth a point." "One point?" "I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans." "Fantastic, that’s good for 2 more points," he says. "Two points!" the man cries. The man is highly frustrated by this time and yells out, "At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!" Peter said, "You’ve got it." "1000 points! Come on in!"

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