WHEN BEING GOOD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
INTRODUCTION:
As a teacher, what is one of the things you want from your students? You want them “to be good.” As a parent, what do you want out of your children? You want them “to be good.” Concerning behavior, being good is something that most of us understand. Surely, even as adults in our community, we want other adults to “be good.” But when it comes to God, being good is not good enough.
If we take this another step into “being good” concerning performance, we want to be good at many things. Always someone will excel at “being good” in some area of performance. Each year, there are the “golden glove” awards to great baseball players. In college football, there is the Heisman trophy. In NASCAR, there is the Winston Cup. In professional football, we have the Superbowl and then there is a “most valuable player” chosen. In the Olympics, we have the different medals. Men and women train their entire lives to receive these awards. Surely, we can say they are good. But when it comes to God, being good is not good enough.
Whether being good refers to behavior, performance, special value, or any other characteristic, when it comes to God, being good is not good enough. God is not influenced by a person’s ability or position in this world.
I. DOING GOOD
A. Feeding and clothing the poor is certainly something we should do, and so it is good. Giving
our time and our talent to others such as tutoring struggling students, or being a big brother or big sister to children who need role models is something that we should do, and so it is good.
B. Paul Was Doing Good
Philippians 3:4 “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
If religious works and heritage could qualify one to be spiritual, then Paul would be way up there. He begins with his pure heritage as a Jew. Then he uses three statements to show without a doubt his pure Jewish blood: (Wayne Barber)
1. Pure stock of “the nation of Israel.” This was the badge of honor to a true Israelite. This was
the name of the covenant people of God.
2. Precious stock “the tribe of Benjamin.” Benjamin was the son of Abraham and Rachel. He
was the only child born to Jacob in the Promised Land. Benjamin was the smallest tribe
but was very precious. The Temple stood in the land that Benjamin and Judah inhabited.
3. Proud stock: “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” It meant that both of his parents were Hebrew. It also
meant that he was brought up in the strictest of Jewish tradition.
God wants you to be good, but being good is not good enough.
II. WORKING YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN
A. Good Works
Luke 18:9 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
B. Self-inflicted Suffering or Martyrdom
1. Cutting or beating yourself
2. Being nailed to a cross
Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”
If it is a debt, you must work to pay it off. If you are working to pay off your sin debt, it
will not be possible to pay it off in this life-time.
III. BOASTING
A. We have a tendency to boast.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone about something you have recently done
or somewhere you have been or even a sickness. And then, the individual(s) you are talking to try to “out do” your experience. If you caught a fish 14 inches long, they caught one, or two, 18 inches long.
Could you imagine what the boasting would be like in Heaven?
B. Boasting Is Of The Flesh
I Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
We may rejoice in God. We have no strength, and no righteousness of which to boast; but we may rejoice in Him. He is full of goodness and mercy. He is able to save us. He can redeem us out of the hand of all our enemies. And when we are conscious that we are poor, and feeble, and helpless; when oppressed with a sense of sin, we may rejoice in Him as OUR God; and exult in Him as OUR Saviour and Redeemer. True piety will delight to come and lay everything at His feet; and whatever may be
our rank, or talent, or learning, we shall rejoice to come with the temper of the humblest child of poverty, and sorrow, and lack, and to say, “not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake (Ps. 115:1),” Barnes’ Notes
IV. THIS IS THE ONLY GOSPEL
Galatians 1:6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
What is it that causes a lot of liberals to be upset with Christianity? It is exclusionary. It goes against that saying that “all roads lead to Heaven.”
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
God wants you to be good, but be good gospel is not good enough.
V. GRACE
By mere favor. It is not by your own merit; it is not because you have any claim. Barnes’ Notes
A. Humbles Man
And what is yet more difficult in coming to Christ, the soul forsakes not only its sinful self, but its righteous self; not only its worst sins, but its best performances, accomplishments, and excellences. John Flavel
It is an evidence of piety when we are thus disposed to exalt God, and to be humble. It shows that the heart is changed; and that we are truly disposed to honor him. Not ascribing his salvation to human abilities, or learning, or rank, but entirely to God.
Barnes’ Notes
B. Magnifies Christ
II Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
Titus 3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
When a sinner comes thus to God, with a broken and contrite heart, believing and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, God freely pardons him; and he knows and feels that he is pardoned, because his darkness and distress are all taken away; and the Spirit of God bears witness with his spirit that he is a child of God: this God has promised; and, therefore, it is the privilege of every Christian to know that his sins are forgiven him for Christ’s sake: and of this fact there are thousands of living
witnesses in the Christian church. Let it ever be remembered that genuine faith in Christ will ever be productive of good works; for this faith worketh by love, as the apostle says, and love to God always produces obedience to his holy laws. Adam Clarke
“God is perfect so cannot accept less than perfect into His presence. Only the works of Christ’s can appear before Him.” Derickson’s Notes
