A Misconception of Faith

I was reading some Devotionals and I was inspired to post this blog. There are too many misconceptions of Christianity in our world. It's easy to fall into these traps and make wrong assumptions about Faith and what it means. However, when studying the Scriptures from the Bible we can have a better understanding of What Faith is. I would Like to address A Misconception of Faith that I feel is the Biggest posing threat to becoming a Christian.

If you are a good person, God loves you and will accept you into heaven./ You don't have to be a Christian to go to Heaven.

While it IS true that God loves us all, it is NOT true that God can accept you if you are not a born again Christian. This always gets a lot of criticism in our world. While it is nice that you are a good person, God makes it clear through scripture what it means to be a Christian. In the Bible we are told that all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. We are all sinners, every single one of us. None of us are "good," and most certainly not "good" enough to get to God. That is why God sent his son, Jesus, to die for us. Without Jesus, there is no way to God, because we have sinned. Further, God cannot accept you if you reject him, even if you are a good person, because God is Holy and perfect. He turns his head from sin. This is demonstrated when Jesus is on the cross bearing all our sins on his shoulders. He cries out to God asking why God had Forsaken Him, or turned away from Him. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have the chance to one day enter God's Holy and perfect kingdom. But No matter how hard we try, we cannot get to God through good works alone. Take a look at these verses from the New Testament:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God" Romans 3:23

"As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one...they all have
turned aside; They together have become unprofitable; there is none who
does good, no, not one." Romans 3:10, 12

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the spirit of
God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is
not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of
sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness...For if you live according
to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of
the body, you will live." Romans 8:9-10, 13

"But the scripture has confirmed all under sin, that the promise by faith
in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." Galatians 3:22

"For by Grace, you have been saved though Faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not Know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" John 1:10-13

These are just a few of MANY verses in the Bible that talk about sin and salvation. Wat do you think about the good works of man now? Now lets see what Jesus himself says...

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him i will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" John 3:3

"Jesus said to him,'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father, except through Me." John 14:6

"I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep." John 10:11

"I am the door, if anyone enters by me, he will be saved and he will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:9

"Jesus said to her,'I am the Resurrection and the Life, any one who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' John 11:25

Once again;...these are just a FEW verses from scripture where Jesus explains
salvation. The Bible is Clear, the only way to God is through Jesus
Christ, not good works. So keep feeding the poor and loving your neighbor
as yourself, BUT do NOT neglect to love, accept, and confess the one who Died
for you so that YOU will know God! He is the ONLY way!