You're Not Good Enough!

You're not good enough... and that's OK!

​Last night on the news, I heard a prominent, powerful person being interviewed by the press. They said they wanted to “do good things” so they can make God happy. They wanted to do good things so they could get to the next level, so they could get to heaven. 

​Good goal. Misguided intentions. Very bad theology.
 
Of course, this frame of mind is not unique to one individual. And though it is heart-wrenching, it is not at all surprising. About four years ago, a research article was published by American Worldview Inventory that said well over 50% of self-professing Christians believe good works will help get them to heaven. The study also found that “huge proportions of people” associated with churches whose official doctrine says eternal salvation comes only from embracing Jesus Christ as savior “believe that a person can qualify for Heaven by being or doing good.” That included plenty of Lutherans too.  Furthermore, only one-third of American adults (35%) continue to embrace the traditional biblical view that salvation comes exclusively through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Four years later, with church attendance and biblical literacy on the steady decline, I suspect these percentages have not gotten any better. It is a sad situation that half the Christian church (at least in our country) thinks they can earn their way into heaven.
 
So let me be clear, you can’t. You are not good enough.
Don’t even try.
You’re wasting your time.
It is not possible.
 
People are taught from childhood to work hard and be the best at what they do. As children they compete to make the team. As older kids they compete to earn the college scholarships. As adults they compete for the best-paying jobs. Hard work can bring rewards. Sometimes children and adults may win awards and ribbons in contests simply for trying or just for participation. In the places where we are employed, the reward is a paycheck. That is how things work in our world. Hard work may bring rewards, in trophies, ribbons, or wages.
 
But, when it comes to establishing a relationship with God, none of this hard work can accomplish anything. No matter how hard we try, we cannot make God meet us on our own terms. We cannot earn His favor or measure up to His standards. Last week during 1st Communion class, we read these words: “For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:22b-23)  This makes it pretty clear. We are not good enough. We never will be. No matter how hard we try, it is not possible.  Your best efforts are futile; your good intentions mean nothing. There are no awards for trying to earn forgiveness from Him. Even the most skillful business negotiator cannot reach a deal with God. We have nothing to bring to the table. “None is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. ” (Romans 3:10b-11). We can’t even win a participation award because “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” (Isaiah 64:6b)

You're not good enough. But that's OK. In fact, it is a prerequisite for God's grace. 
 
We are sinners. We fall short of God’s glory. We cannot make a deal that will save us. God alone can make that deal and He has done so in Christ. We are justified by God’s grace as a gift through faith in Jesus. It was not our work that saves us, but the work of Jesus Christ—His sinless life, His redeeming death, and His resurrection. This past Sunday, we sang these words, “Thy works, not mine, O Christ … they tell me all is done.” Everything has been done. We need not try to add anything more; there is nothing left to earn. It has all been given to us by the nail-scarred hands of our Savior. We have been reconciled to God because Jesus suffered the penalty of death that we deserved for our sins.
 
Make no mistake. It is still a good thing for us to “do good things.”  But remember, such effort never effects our salvation; it only reflects our new life in Christ.  Baptized into the Name of the Triune God, we have been born again to a new life. Now, dressed in Jesus’ righteousness, our work as His followers begins! We live to serve Him through serving others. Like living, thriving trees, through the work of the Holy Spirit we produce the fruit of good works. These works of love and service and witness glorify God and draw attention, not to us, but to our Savior, who alone can atone for sin.
 
“Thy works, not mine, O Christ,
Speak gladness to this heart;
They tell me all is done,
They bid my fear depart.
 
“Thy righteousness, O Christ,
Alone can cover me;
No righteousness avails
Save that which is of Thee.”  (LSB 565, stz. 1,4)


h/t to LHM Daily Devotion from 10.5.25