HOW MANY GOOD DEEDS AND ACTS OF CHARITY EARNS YOU YOUR SALVATION?
79THE ONLY PATH TO SALVATION
EARNING "BROWNIE POINTS" WITH GOD?
What you are about to read, is harsh, to the point, and, blunt. But what is said here is God's truth.
See: [JOHN: 3: 14-18] Also, [ROMANS: 10: 9-13]
I cannot speak for all religions and their beliefs, for I have not witnessed or studied them all.
I cannot even speak for all of the "Organized Religions" of the world, for I know not all of them.
But of the ones I have heard of, all aparently worship God under one name or another and all seem to think or believe that by doing good deeds, one earns as I call them, "Brownie Points" with God by doing good deeds.
Christian, Catholics, Protestants of all denominations, Jews, Islams, Hindu, Buddists, and on and on, believe that by doing good deeds, one earns "Brownie Points" with Almighty God the Creator.
The Roman Catholics and the Jews especially are great at preaching that Good Deeds will earn you a place in Heaven.
Okay maybe the Jews might maybe have a sort of excuse for being wrong for they do not accept the New Testament as a part of God's Holy Word.
But the Catholics should know better, but are misguided by their leaders from the Pope on down. They think if the Pope says it, it must be right and true.
Fact of the matter is, they are right. Every good deed, done, does earn brownie points with God.
Each is recorded upon the ledger sheet of each and every human being, from Adam on adinfinitum until Jesus returns to reclaim the earth as His Kingdom.
These "Brownie Points" are recorded and stored up in Heaven for each and every individual as their heavenly reward to be received once one returns back to Almighty God, when He recalls us, one by one.
Here's the "Catch 22" though, none of these rewards can be redeemed, without you first becoming sanctified by the blood of the lamb, and being recognized by God as a redeemed brother or sister to Christ Jesus.
Only sanctification through Christ Jesus, qualifies me, you, or anyone else, earning us the right to have our name recorded in the Lamb's Book.
Only our sanctification allows Our Father Almighty God, to see us, for God can only look upon us once we are totally cleansed and purified of all sin.
Only then are we considered "Sanctified" and worthy of kneeling or standing before almight God. Only then do we truly have the right to address God as Father.
All of the good deeds performed, and all of the "Brownie Points" earned by doing them are totally worthless and meaningless if you have not been sanctified by receiving Jesus into your life, and being totally cleansed by the outpouring of His Holy Blood over your sins and your sinfulness.
Without this you have no "Salvation", no "Sanctification" and no right to call yourself a "Brother to Jesus or for that matter a "Christian", for to call ones self a Christian, one MUST be born again in Christ Jesus experienceng a death to sin and a resurrection to sactification.
Also See: [ROMANS: 8: 2-6;] and [8: 28-30]
Granted Jesus preached the doing of good deeds to his apostles, his disciples, to all who followed Him and would listen, teaching that earthly rewards for deeds done had no real value, but did earn a heavenly value, valued by Almighty God, who would be the one to reward them.
If earning "Brownie Points" earned you your salvation, what kind of good deeds, and how many good deeds, do you think you would have to do, to earn your sanctification and salvation, and the right to stand before Almighty God and call Him Father?
What do you think you could possibly do, that would impress Almighty God enough, for Jesus to wipe clean your sin debt past present and future?
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Dave - My Creator is the supreme giver who I just don't believe measures things in quantity but quality.
Great work.
The Frog
Sorry but the Catholic church and also Martin Luther say that you can not buy your way into heaven.I am sure the same is true for others as well.
It is not by works along that we shall be placing our salvation on. We should also grow in our faith, as well go out and teach others about The Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Amplified Bible (AMP)
8For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
10For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [b]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
DM,
I think we are in spiritual agreement when we understand that works, in the legalistic sense, cannot earn salvation. But when we are saved through the sacrificial blood of Jesus, in love and faith, we work for His cause in bringing others to Him, and to serve our fellow man.
All saints will be judged according to works done while in the body.
Scripture evidence seem to support the view that we are recognized by God as redeemed immediately when we repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ which is when the sanctification process begins.
The word sanctification can be misunderstood and misapplied for it is used in Scripture in more than one sense. It is the same Greek word used for holiness, “hagios,” meaning a separation (from the world) unto Christ at the time of our rebirth, which initiates the progressive work of the Holy Spirit sanctifying us. It is a lifelong process.
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Our glorified state will be our perfect separation from sin and complete sanctification.
Love, peace and joy in Him, our Sanctifier!
Forever His
We as chritians must also read our bibles for ourseleves so we can get a better understanding of what the lord has for us . We must be like sheep being hearded for the misconception of others. Where you have been mislead only God words can correct, I have read the passages in which you refer to and in no way does it say what you arew saying, so for your salvation and others don't repeat this message of works will when you a place next to our Lord, Because one can be saved does works but still hasn't develop a close relationship with Jesus, but according to you still can receive salvation. Please study God word more closely and you will discover it takes way more than work or as you said good deeds. Here is what the bible really say in the passages you refered to.
John 3:14-18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],
15In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may [a]not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!
16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([b]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
18He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]
Romans 10:9-13
Amplified Bible (AMP)
9Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
11The Scripture says, No man who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed.
12[No one] for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord over all [of us] and He generously bestows His riches upon all who call upon Him [in faith].
13For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.
Romans 8:2-6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
3For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [[a]the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [[b]subdued, overcame, [c]deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],
4So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].
5For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [d]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [e]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
6Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that [f]comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].
Romans 8:28-30
Amplified Bible (AMP)
28We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
29For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [b]aware and [c]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
30And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].
It is not our place to take what we want out of the bible we are suppose to check all that is said to us against what the bible actually says. If we quote the bible make sure you are actually quoting the bible and not man beleifs. For when you do this you can be punsih for causing someone fto miss their blessing. For all our christian sakes check you information before bringing it to God's people.
Amen HyphenBird! This is the best and only thing any of us can and should do.
Froggie: Quality is the very best. So long as we remember that deeds will never help us to salvation.
I know what the Catholic Church says, but that is not what it preaches.
Lamarkyoung: I agree. You make good points here.
RevLady: Our works to bring Others to Jesus is very important. There is no denying this. Our salvation is not based upon this though. Our works or deeds are what earn us as I call them "Brownie Points" in heaven. We will be asked what good deeds we did in life, but these deeds are not apart of our sanctification.
Lamarkyoung: I fully know what the scriptures quoted say and if they do not say that acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior is the road to salvation and sanctification in your Bible, it does in mine. The Quotes I use are to emphasize that we do not achieve salvation and sanctification by doing good deeds One cannot buy their way into heaven.
Now we are on the same accord, I just wanted to make sure that people in general (not you personally) need to read there bibles. You I do beleive do read yours, that comes out clear in your post. My message was simple Most people take for granted what the bible says and take it out of context to suit their needs. P.S. Yes my bible does say the same passage what was never in question? You must come through the son to the Father. Remember we are all walking by faith and are not without sin, that means sometimes we must rely on our christtian brothers and sisters to correct us and refine us to keep us in line with Gods plan not ours.
lamarkyoung: I get where you are coming from now. Many go through Jesus to Our Father, and rightly so. I speak directly with The Father, or directly with The Holy Spirit, or directly with Jesus. This is my Family and I need not do a go around to talk with any, my Father or My Brothers.
Dave, how many good deed did the thief on the cross do before asking Christ to remember him and then being told he would gain his place in heaven? I'd guess none. dust
Dave,
Two fellows, both of them quite wealthy, passed away at the very same time.
Shortly after leaving this realm they found themselves standing just outside the Pearly Gates and facing The Lord Himself.
The Lord asked each of the men why should He allow them into Heaven.
The first fellow said, "Lord, I should be allowed to enter because I spent my entire life doing good deeds ... " And he went on to run down a littany of all of the great and wonderful things that he had done for "his fellow man" while he was alive.
Then, it was the second fellow's turn. He said, "Lord, I don't even know why I'm here. I do not deserve to be standing here before You. When I was alive, I was a selfish, self-centered cad and I hardly ever went out of my way for anyone." And he went on to tell The Lord more about how wicked and selfish he had been when he was alive.
Well, on the following morning when the two fellows woke up, one found himself deep in the pit of hell and the other found himself in a paradise far beyond his wildest dreams.
In closing, I will just say that the very good and generous fellow discovered that the pajamas he was wearing were made out of asbestos.
feenix: I love that story it compliments my hub exactly. If I had know the story, I should have incorporated it.
Hi, Dave,
Actually, it is a very popular story among Hispanic people. It is just that I "Anglicized" it a bit.
Dave Matthews, Very thought provoking hub! We are SAVED by the GRACE of GOD because we BELIEVE in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST and accept HIM into our hearts as SAVIOR & LORD!
Works do not save us but should display our Faith in the LORD...
"Let the WORD of CHRIST dwell in you richly as you TEACH and ADMONISH one another with all WISDOM, and as you sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to GOD. And whatever you do whether in word or deed do it ALL in the NAME of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through Him," Colossians 3.
Thank you for sharing, In HIS Love, Grace, Joy, Peace & Blessings!
DeBorrah: Thank you for dropping by for a read and a comment. It is amazing how many people think that they can "Earn Salvation" or buy their way to sanctification.
Religion in the past has really served to mis-guide people into this way of thinking and it's a shame.
Hyphenbird Level 8 Commenter 9 months ago
The one thing I can do is acknowledge what Jesus did for me, repent and walk in His grace. Hallelujah to Jesus, Lord of all.
Thanks Dave for a great devotional. Hyphenbird