I'm a Good Person, So What Do I Have To Worry About?

The devil works in so many crafty ways. Moral relativism, which is without reference to God's Holy Word in the Bible, is how some people justify their behavior. As long as I haven't killed someone and I'm just a little better than you, I must be okay. Some other religions teach that as long as the number of your good deeds is greater than the number of your bad deeds, then you are fine. However, there is really no way to qualify which deeds are bad and which are good, and are you really keeping score? From their perspective, one cannot really know that s/he is going to heaven. If Satan can confuse you into believing any of these or other deviations from the truth, he will rob you of the eternal fruits that can await you. Let's look at how God's Holy Bible addresses this whole issue.

 

Keep and Follow God's Commands

"Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD."

Leviticus 22:31 NIV

 

So what are God's commands? They are the Ten Commandments. 

 {Jesus and others reference the Commandments several times, including Matthew 7:8, 19:7, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Romans 13:9, 1 Corinthians 7:19, 1 John 2:3, 3:21-22, and 5:3.}

 

Keep and Obey God's Commands

"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."

Joshua 22:5 NIV

 

Let's look at each of the Ten Commandments, see how Jesus responds to them, then examine if we are keeping them. Notice that sometimes Jesus extends the commandments.

 

1) No Other gods

"You shall have no other gods before me."

Exodus 20:3 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Worship the LORD your God and serve him only."

Matthew 4:10 NIV

 

If you have found yourself working longs hours for the almighty dollar, yet have little or no time for God, you have put God below your financial gain and/or career. You have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

2) No Idols

"You shall not make for yourself an idol . . . ."

Exodus 20:4 NIV

 

Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters."

Luke 16:13 NIV

 

If you have ever idolized anything, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

3) Don't Misuse God's Name

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God."

Exodus 20:7 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne . . . ."

Matthew 5:34 NIV

 

If you have ever used an expletive using God as one of the words, or said "Jesus Christ" when you were not calling on him in prayer or song, you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

4) Remember the Sabbath

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

Exodus 20:8 NIV

 

Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is LORD even of the Sabbath."

Mark 2:27-28 NIV

 

If you have not taken a day each week (regardless of which day) for rest, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

5) Honor Parents

"Honor your father and your mother."

Exodus 20:12 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me."

Matthew 10:37 NIV

 

If you have ever said any bad things about your parents or have not been respectful to them, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

6) No Murder

"You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment."

Matthew 5:22 NIV

 

If you have ever murdered anyone or if you have been angry with your brother, you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

7) No Adultery

"You shall not commit adultery."

Exodus 20:14 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Matthew 5:28 NIV

 

If you have ever engaged in fornication (pre-marital sex), adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, or other sexual acts outside the marital covenant, or if you have ever looked at someone and thought about what it would be like to have sex with him/her, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

8) No Stealing

"You shall not steal."

Exodus 20:15 NIV

 

Jesus said, "If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well."

Matthew 5:40 NIV

 

If you have ever stolen ANYTHING, even a pen, a piece of candy, money, or whatever from someone, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

9) No Lying

"You shall not give false testimony."

Exodus 20:16 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."

Matthew 12:36 NIV

 

If you have ever lied, even a small white lie, or talked trash (careless words), then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

10) No Coveting

"You shall not covet . . . ."

Exodus 20:17 NIV

 

Jesus said, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed."

Luke 12:15 NIV

 

If you have ever been envious of the spouse or possessions of another person, then you have sinned against God and are not a good person.

 

 

If you have sinned against God, you will be judged according to that sin.

 

No Mercy

" . . . Judgment without mercy will be shown . . . ."

James 2:13 NIV

 

Death For Sinners

"For the wages of sin is death . . . ."

Romans 6:23 NIV

 

This death is not the mortal death in this life. The death spoken of is the eternal death. Furthermore, some think that if they keep the commandments most of the time, then they are okay. However, this viewpoint is not Biblical. As a matter of fact, James tells us the following:

 

Break One Law - Break Them All

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."

James 2:10-11 NIV

 

Has your conscience convicted you yet? God's Commandments are the perfect standard. Do you still feel that you have lived a sinless life? Are you still thinking to yourself that "I'm not that bad"? If so, you are deceiving yourself. There are no good people.

 

Don't Deceive Yourself

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

1 John 1:8 NIV

 

All Have Sinned

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23 NIV

 

So what is a sinful person to do? How do we get right with God? There is only one solution. You have to get a substitute to take the punishment for your sins. Since "the wages of sin is death," someone has to pay. If you do not find a substitute, you will be the one who will have to pay. Praise God that He provided a substitute for you. All you have to do is repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

 

Repent

"But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Luke 13:3 NIV

 

Confess and Believe

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Romans 10:9 NIV

 

Jesus Brings Justification

"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness [Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection] was justification that brings life for all men."

Romans 5:18 NIV

 

I pray that you turn from your wicked ways and desires. Judgment day is approaching, and you want to be armed with the robe of righteousness that only Jesus Christ can offer. Jesus is the "way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6 NIV)  May God convict your heart so you will hear His calling. Choose Jesus today!