05/08/13

Not doing evil will not take you to Heaven

Psalms 37:27 - Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

A few weeks back I met with a Catholic Priest and was discussing the Bible with him. He was justifying his decision to follow Catholicism and the one of his main points was that if a person does not sin and believes in Jesus that person qualifies to be a good Christian and would go to Heaven. I pointed to him scriptures in which the Bible clearly states like in today's message that as Christians just not sinning does not qualify us to Heaven, he was taken back and kept shut.

Today's message very clearly tells us if we need to dwell forevermore we need not to sin AND do good. To dwell forever means one needs to go to Heaven, for in Heaven alone can man dwell for ever since we need to have access to the Tree of Life which is in Heaven to eat of it.

Another every important factor one needs to understand, doing good does not mean just social work like giving alms or looking after the sick or needy, these things are important but do not qualify a person to good/perfect works. Our God is Spirit and the real good happens when we help the spirit of that person, which includes bringing them to the Lord and building them in the Lord. God is good and He came as man not just to feed man or heal them but to save them from spiritual death.

If we feed the hungry with natural food we also need to give them spiritual food (Gospel/Word of God). If we give the thirsty water to drink we also need to give them Living Water - which is the understanding of the Kingdom of God. If we cloth the naked with cloths we also need to teach them to cloth themselves with the righteousness of Jesus Christ by abiding in His Word and Spirit. If we give shelter to the homeless we also need to look after those who do not know God and desire Him. If we do the former and not the later we do not qualify to go to Heaven, also we need to note if we are truly doing the later we will automatically do the former, for the later without the former cannot be truly done.

So brother and sisters in Christ, even if you are able to escape temptation and keep yourself from sinning, do not be deceived that you will be with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom when He comes in glory. Jesus did His Father's Will and gave us a mission to do, do that mission is doing is the Father's Will if we do not abide by it, can we say we really believe in Him and love Him?


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, many are deceived into thinking they will be with You when You come in glory and dwell with You in Heaven. You have said even if we do miracles or preach about You and do not do the Will of the Father we will not enter Heaven and have eternal life. Lord, open the eyes of your people and let them know You are a love and You showed us how to love truly. Lord Jesus You fed people and healed them in the natural but at the same time You did greater things for them in the spiritual. Help us to be your true disciple by imitating You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

1 Peter 1:16-25
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.


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