How Good?

OK, so nobody’s perfect - but on a scale of 1 to 10 (where 10 is perfect) where would you say you come?                               

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1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10

  Most people put themselves on the upper half. But that leaves a shortfall even in our own estimation of our goodness.

  But often we’re just comparing ourselves to others, but how do we do when we compare our lives with God’s standards in Exodus 20:1-17 - the 10 Commandments? 

Good Enough?

When we face an exam or test, we want to know what the pass mark is. It may come as a surprise to many that God's pass mark for getting into heaven is actually perfection –a 100%. The Bible says, 

"Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10). 

  Jesus' teaching that lust is adultery and that hatred in our hearts is murder (see Matthew 5:22 & 28) shows that our very thoughts are examined and indeed it condemns us all.

Guilty?

If God had to declare us guilty or not guilty of breaking his laws He would and He does find us all guilty.

‘There is no-one righteous, not even one..

Romans 3:10

Perfect!

We would need to get someone who has lived a perfect life and is prepared to swap it for our sinful one! - and that God would agree to such a swap!

   The good news is that God has arranged such an exchange in the perfect sacrifice of His own perfect Son, Jesus Christ. He died in your place and rose again to show the payment for our sins was accepted.

   The exchange is sealed when you stop trying to prove your own goodness, agree to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus Christ alone.

   Don't trust in yourself or in any church. It's not about our own goodness - it's all about the price that Jesus paid in full at the cross for all our sins.

Forgiven?

The truth is that there was only one who is good enough and He died in your place. 

For Christ died for sins 

once for all, the righteous 

for the unrighteous, 

to bring you to God.    

                                  1 Peter 3:18

As Christians we don’t claim to be good, but we simply rejoice in God’s amazing grace and complete forgiveness through Jesus.