No One Does Good

Do you think you're good enough to get into heaven? The answer to that question, no matter who you are, is 'no.'

"God looks down from heaven on the  children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." - Psalm 14:2-3

During Vacation Bible School this summer I asked my students if any of them thought they were good enough to get into heaven. One kid out of 18 raised his hand.

"Really?" I said. "You'd better put your hand down. 'No one does good. Not even one.'" (That was our verse of the day).

I hoped that his embarrassing moment got him thinking.

Last week that same kid was baptized at our church picnic. I still have that hope. That he KNEW he was not good enough to get into heaven on his own, but that through the shed blood of Jesus, he was.

I wonder how many of us think we've been 'good enough.' We go to church, we did a good deed, we got baptized, we wear a cross necklace. None of that means anything. Here's what DOES matter.

Remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus?

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” - Luke 23:39-43

The thief acknowledged 1.) his own sin and 2.) that Jesus was God. That's all it takes.

"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38

No One Does Good - Answers VBS