Can the blessed be saved?

So just as a follow up to yesterday’s post. I want to consider the idea of Can the blessed be saved?

Who are the blessed?

I hear people talk about being blessed. When they say that, usually there is some sort of measurable, tangible gift of life, they believe God has given to them, and they use it as a foundation for their hope of eternal life.

If we asked these people if they were to die today where would they spend eternity, their answer would be in heaven with God. “Why do you think that,” we might ask?

“Because he is with me and takes care of me. He has blessed me.”

So those who are blessed are those who see that, there is a God. This God gives good gifts. And because this God gives good gifts, those who receive them are “ok before this Holy God.”

How are they Blessed?

Usually the blessings are tangible like:

• Financial strength
• Wellness and health
• Good relationships with others
• Successful business ventures
• and so on.

What’s wrong with this?

The problem is that God is good to these people through what I would call common grace.

Normal People, just skip this: **(Now a note to all you ultra theology nerds. I know that the various takes on common grace can have some variations, and some people hate the concept and all that. I use the term common grace, to simply mean that there are tangible blessings in the lives of lost people that God has placed in their lives, simply because he is good. I am not trying to say anything else.)

As I was saying…

The problem is that God is good to these people through what I would call common grace. And common grace does not:

• call the sinner to repentance
• offer hope of eternal life
• declare the sinner righteous
• or anything the like.

However, there are so many blessings in common grace that the lost person fails to come to grips with. By God’s common grace:

• We can breath
• We can eat
• Our molecules are held together

None of these more, basic blessings, can at all be construed that God is “ok” with us. So why would your survival of a financial crisis mean God is “ok” with you?

Now I do believe these blessing ought to call a person to repentance, because God is being good to them. But that is a different topic.

So what?

So you should examine yourself. If you were to stand before God, and he were to ask you:

Why Should I let you into my heaven?

What would you answer? If deep down you feel like his saving you in the car wreck proves you are “ok” in God’s eyes, then you are sadly mistake.

You must personally turn from your sin, turn from your self effort to make yourself better, and trust in Jesus Christ. Then you will be “ok” in God’s sight.

 

 

Can good people be saved?

Living in the Bible Belt comes with special ministerial problems. “Everyone” is a Christian and member of a church.

It would seem that this is true because:

1. There is a seemingly higher moral standard here.
2. There are more people who attend worship
3. There is a tighter connection between God and country

It seems that this colors how people view themselves. Basically they’re good.

What is good?

Good is that state of perfection arrived at by avoiding a whole boat load of rules.

• I don’t murder people
• I don’t get drunk (often)
• I don’t beat my wife (just abandon her during hunting season)
• I don’t beat my kids, and I teach them to say yes sir and no sir.
• I might have dropped out of school, but I don’t want any one else to do that.
• I work hard providing for my family.
• I salute the flag
• I wish I could have served in the army.
• I never say ugly words in a church house, and I go ever so often.
• I have a Bible in my house, and maybe on my phone.
• I always re-tweet good God loving memes
• I have given money for people to go on mission trips,
• I think the pastor is the smartest person I know
• And Jesus is a great guy for dying for me. So I celebrate his birthday and resurrection.
• And the list could go on and on.

Good does what a non Spirit-filled man can do on his own with enough umph.

Good can even memorize Bible passages, pray, sing, and listen to a sermon without getting mad.

But can good be saved? The answer is no. But why?

Three Verses

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:5)

Paul makes it clear that those who are justified, the first step we take in salvation, are the ungodly. God does not justify the good, the trying, the almost there, or the good old boy. He justifies the ungodly.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14)

Here the one who is justified is the one who recognizes himself as a sinner, not a good person. He doesn’t try to argue for his inclusion into the things of God by pointing out his goodness.

“For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” John 9:39

Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, so says John 3:17. However, Jesus says, “For Judgment I came into this world.” because of judgment he came into this world. For 2 people:

Those who see —> will become blind

Those who are blind —> will be made to see.

So only the blind can be saved. Only those who know they are spiritually blind and admit it can be saved.

So no, a good person cannot be saved, but a bad on can. Are you good? The point is this no one is good, but too many southerners think that they are good. This is a problem. Because if  you think you are good, then Jesus will not be a savior to you. You might think you can still be a Christian, but the reality is, you can’t think of yourself as good and truly be a Christian.

Your only hope is admitting your blindness, wickedness, and ungodliness. Once you see yourself truly, then you can be saved.