Are you good enough? You might want to think that through. You might want to because we’re talking about your eternity here. You also might want to because you never know when someone’s going to do a man on the street interview and ask you that question…
(video about being good enough - 2:40)
Asaph wrote Psalm 73 about a crisis time in his life. He looked at all the wicked people whose lives seemed so cushy and had almost convinced himself that living a good life just doesn’t matter.
Psalm 73:11-14
…Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
Have you ever felt that way?
You work hard at your job, but the guy who’s a goof-off gets a better raise than you get.
You study hard for a test, but the kid next to you who cheats ends up with a better grade.
And in desperation you say, “What good does it do to be good? What’s the point?”
Joke – 3 boys talking. One says, “My dad’s an attorney. I get $10 a week for being good.” Another says, “My dad’s a doctor. I get $20 a week for being good.” The 3rd on says, “My dad’s a preacher. I’m good for nothing !”
What I’m really talking about is living right. Does it matter, and if it does, how much does it matter?
The world is upside down on this subject, and we need to land on our feet. Is being a Christian just about having a list of things we don’t do? Where does right living fit into our lives in Jesus?
I hope to help us with that this morning, so buckle up, here we go!
Frankly, Church, we do need to fix some things, so here are
3 Mistakes Christians Make:
1. We are the morality police
Now, first, parents, you’re in a different role. You have a position of authority where lovingly enforcing compliance is your job. That’s what keeps your toddler from running out into the street in front of a truck, and it can also keep your teenager from making some lifelong mistakes. That’s your job, Mom and Dad. In your home, you are the police!
But when it comes to forcing people outside of Jesus to follow Him, that has never been the way God worked. Some of the darkest days of Church history were the times when the Church attempted to force people to be part of it.
God has never forced obedience on anyone. He tells you what is right and wrong. He warns about the results of disobedience. He warns that there will be punishment, and then He follows through and He will follow through. But God never forces people to obey Him.
Why would we?
It has never been the role of the Church to force people to live godly lives. It’s our job to teach it and encourage it. It’s our job to pray for and plead with people who are outside the Lord’s will, even to confront and rebuke sin, but it has never been our job to be the morality police of the world. Our job here is to be the messengers of God’s word – to be His ambassadors; to speak on His behalf.
Peter talks about people outside the church…
1 Peter 4:4-5
They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
There’s one God, and you’re not Him. They will give an account to God, not to you.
Another mistake Christians make is being shocked when people who aren’t Christians don’t act like Christians.
2. We should expect non-Christians to act like believers
Why do we act shocked when non-Christian people act like…non-Christians? Yesterday, at the car show, I heard some of the people here using rough language. It’s not what I want to hear, but I also remembered that we want non-believers to be here, don’t we? Don’t we want people who haven’t met Jesus to step through the doors here and learn about Him? I didn’t go to those guys and say, “Hey, we don’t talk that way!” If I insist that they speak just like me before I’ll be a friend to them, I’ll close the door to reaching them.
When Jesus told Zacchaeus He was going to his house, He didn’t say to Zacchaeus, “Now, before I’ll have lunch with you, there have to be some changes.” No, Jesus want and ate with him, and then Zacchaeus changed.
1 Corinthians 5:9-10
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
In other words, God expects us to at least associate with people who don’t live morally good lives, rather than being shocked by their non-Christian behavior and turning away.
Now, here’s a 3rd mistake that Christians sometimes make because they get #1 & #2 right:
3. We really have no place to say something is wrong
That’s like the other extreme of mistakes we can make – where we believers in Jesus look at what’s going on around us and say, “Well, who are we to say that what someone is doing is wrong?”
Every OT prophet came with messages to God’s people, telling them where they had messed up, pointing out what was wrong in Israel, telling kings they were sinning.
Paul told the church in Corinth to judge people in the church:
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
One of the stated goals of SE Christian Church in Louisville, KY is “To be the moral conscience of our community.” In other words, they are going to speak up when something is wrong.
Ephesians 5:11
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
We ought to love people enough to shine the light on things that shouldn’t be and say like the prophets, “That’s not right! You’re ruining your marriage! You’re killing yourself! You’re hurting your children! You’re weakening society! You’re offending God!” Let’s not make the mistake of remaining silent where God has told us to speak up!
OK, those are 3 mistakes that Christians sometimes make that we can change. Now, let’s go on from here and BRIEFLY look at…
4 Traps For Everyone To Avoid
These traps aren’t so much about getting us to do what’s wrong. They’re really about getting us to do what’s right, but for the wrong reasons. It’s another way we can be good for nothing!
Remember the rope in PE? Remember struggling up that thing, the burned hands, the power wedgie from your shorts, everyone watching you, and then you’re sore for days? You had to climb that thing, all the way to the top of the gym, then come down. What could be worse? I’ll tell you: struggling up that thing only to find out that somehow the rope doesn’t go to the top of the gym. Instead, you reach the top, but it’s not what you thought it was. Something has gone wrong! Not only did you go through the life-altering, horrible experience of climbing the rope, but then you find out it was the wrong rope!
I’d hate to find out that I struggled through life, said NO to temptation, put others ahead of myself, spent my time and energy where I thought I should, only to find out that it was all pointless. Here are the traps…
1. I’ll be saved if I’m good enough
This has to be one of the most commonly believed lies among Christians and non-Christians alike. It’s the hard rope climb that one day is going to end with people standing before God’s throne, counting on their good works to earn Heaven. And before that big disappointment, most people who believe this lie spend every day of their lives now worried because they’re never really sure they’ve done enough. If that’s you, listen: you haven’t done enough.
Scripture just flat-out says it won’t work.
Romans 3:20 (NIV)
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 4:4-5 (NASB)
4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Galatians 2:16 (NIV)
16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
In fact, one of the key passages about this whole subject is…
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Saved by being good enough? It’s a trap! You’re being good for nothing!
2. Being good is what I do for ME
You weren’t created for you, and if all you’re asking when to comes to right living is “What do I have to do to get the best benefit for me?” you’re asking the wrong question. You’re a really weak reason for you to be good. If the only reason you have for right living is you, I guarantee you’ll fail.
Pop quiz! Who is this about?
Colossians 1:15-18
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
I refer to point #1 above: There’s only one God, and you’re not Him!
Titus 2:14
[Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
We have this tendency to look at the cross and be amazed that Jesus loves us so much. He does! But we have to remember that the master plan here is a plan that makes us Jesus’ prize! We are the trophy wife in this scene! His purpose was to redeem us for Himself; to make us into people who are eager to live right! Jesus gets us, and He deserves to get us living right! That’s the goal of His plan!
Don’t just ask, “What do I have to do for me to get the most?” It’s a trap!
3. How much can I do and still get by?
Have you noticed on your credit card bills there are 2 amounts you can pay? There’s the one amount, where, if you’ll pay it every month, your bill will be paid off 3X faster and you’ll pay half as much interest, and then there’s the “minimum payment” – the very least you can pay.
Can you imagine applying for a job and saying in your interview, “What’s the very least I can do and still keep this job?” or “Coach, what’s the slowest I can run and still be allowed to play on the team ?” So why take this attitude into the most important decisions of life?
How much can I push the line between deceit and creativity on my expense report?
How far can I get involved physically with my date and still not be sinning?
How little can I pray, read my Bible, give, attend worship, be actively involved with the Church, and still get by?
If those are the questions you’re asking, you’re asking the wrong questions. It’s a trap!
I refer you to #2 above. Your life isn’t just for you. This question is so opposite of what Jesus did for us! He didn’t see how little He could do, and maybe just save a few people, or maybe just make our lives better for now instead of forever. How can we respond by looking for how little we can do for Him?
4. It’s all about appearances
In Mt 6, Jesus talks about not doing acts of righteousness – right living – for people to see. If that’s the reason for your right living, you’ve missed the point, you’ve lost your reward, and there’s a title for you: hypocrite.
When you dressed for services here today, were you thinking of what God saw?
When you sang this morning, who were you singing for?
When you gave, was your greatest concern about what God thought?
God’s not impressed with good acts that are done for the sake of impressing people. It’s a trap!
OK. I want to end this with a positive note and good things for us to think about and do. Here are…
5 Motives for Right Living
Sometimes, just remembering the good reason for what you’re doing can get you through some tough challenges.
1. It’s necessary
We need to live right, to do good works, because it’s necessary.
Wait, Sherm, I thought you said that our good works don’t save us, and that no amount of good works can save us. Actually, it wasn’t me that said that, it was the HS! It’s true. Our good works aren’t the means that will get us into Heaven. Does that make them unnecessary? Only if you’re all that matters! I refer you to #1 above: there’s only one God, and you’re not Him!
When you date a guy or gal, you put your best foot forward, right? You do things to please that person, and maybe you’ll end up married. OK, so she said YES! You get married. Is it still necessary to do the things you did before? Well, no, not to get that person to marry you. But if you still want to please her, yes, it’s still necessary! What if the only thing your good living did was please God? Would that be enough of a reason to do it, or would it be good for nothing?
2 Corinthians 5:9
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
2. It’s “fitting”
Yesterday, veterans of the Vietnam war marched from the door to the hillside, bearing our nation’s colors. It was a time to take off your hat, be quiet, and show respect. Why? Because that’s appropriate. In our culture, in that setting, in light of what we were recognizing, that was the fitting thing to do.
If you wear the family name of Jesus, if you have been forgiven an enormous debt, if God has rescued your life from the fire, there’s an appropriate way to live. It’s fitting that you live in a way that honors Him. No one should have to ask you to do it. You should be looking around to see how.
1 Timothy 2:9-10
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Ephesians 4:1
…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
3. You’ve died
A dead person acts differently than a person who’s alive, right? Well, according to the HS, you died when you accepted Jesus. When you were baptized, an old you died, you were buried, and a new person was raised up. That’s Romans 6.
Colossians 3:3
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
1 Peter 2:24
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
A dead person acts differently than a living person. When you accept Jesus, that old person dies. There’s a different person living now – a person who acts differently than before.
4. Treasure in Heaven
I can’t fully explain this right now. I can only say that in some way our good works now are a way that we’ll one day have a great reward in Heaven. Jesus talked about storing up treasure in Heaven. Paul referred to it too.
Matthew 6:19-20
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
1 Timothy 6:18-19
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
I’m not even sure what that looks like in Heaven. I just know that’s another reason for right living now.
5. It’s a witness that will change lives forever!
Most people outside the Church already have a list of reasons to remain outside the Church, don’t they? Here’s a neat thing: our lives, lived like they’re supposed to be lived, create a reason for people to come to Jesus! Jesus said,
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Instead of giving someone another excuse to avoid Jesus, your life can remove excuses.
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to talk to your neighbor and say, “Is there reason not to come with me to SS or my small group?” and they say, “No, there is no reason!”
You’re not good for nothing! You don’t need to be good for nothing!
Conclusion:
Let me end this morning just by saying this: If you’ve seen people living like they really loved Jesus, and really cared about others, it’s probably because they do. They aren’t being good for nothing!
They’re living life that’s real, and part of the reason you’ve seen it is because God wants you to become that kind of a person too…
