Why should I know Christ?
Isn’t it enough that I’m a good person?
Won’t that get me into Heaven?
Good questions – and all are frequently asked by those seeking to understand their own condition in an eternal universe. The Bible’s response to those types of questions is often sited in the Book of Romans. Here we learn that we are all equally guilty of not being perfect. Our imperfections or sins keep us from having the relationship with God that He would like to see us have. Since God is both righteous (he can’t sin) and merciful, He provides a way for us to be able to join into a relationship with Him.
Do we deserve to go to Heaven?
No, we can’t ever earn our way into Heaven. It is only through accepting that Jesus died for us (in our place) that we get to spend eternity with God. Admitting that we can’t get to heaven on our own is difficult for many of us. After all, being self-sufficient is an admirable trait in our culture. But a trait that God loves even better is when we obey Him and submit to His authority. That’s how Jesus became our key to Heaven and through Him we can be assured that we can have a place in God’ s kingdom, as well.
The following excerpts from the Book of Romans in the New Testament:
Romans 3:23-24 Yes, all have sinned: all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 10:9-13 For salvation that comes by trusting Christ-which is what we preach-is already within easy reach of us; in fact, it is as near as our own hearts and mouths. For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.
Scripture reference:
Holy Bible, People’s Parallel Edition, The Living Bible-paraphrased; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; Wheaton, Illinois, 1981.