Christian Bible question...

[kblackstone444]

Where does it say in the Bible that everyone is "good enough" to be saved?

[Bluegoat]

Hmm, interesting, I never think of it as people being "good enough." Rather, we all fall short of perfection, and we are saved anyway. If we think of God as being infinite and perfect, we are all finite and imperfect. A finite thing subtracted from an infinite thing is an an finite number - the gap between us and God, then, is infinite. And infinity is the same for Mother Teresa or a really terrible person.

Bible verses that strike me as being related - I'm sure there are more but these strike me off the top of my head since they are in the liturgy:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53.6)

...if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to clense us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1.8.9)

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1 Timothy, 1.15)

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,; and he is the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 2.1.2)

[BananaBreadGirl]

It doesn't say that anyone is "good enough" anywhere, as far as I can see. Great verses from Bluegoat.
Other ones to check out:

Romans 3:9-20 "None is righteous, no, not one"

1 John 1:8 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."


Keep in mind that God doesn't require "goodness" for salvation, he requires absolute perfection, living up to exactly what he created us to be. No one does that.

[cappuccinosmom]

It doesn't.

In fact, as the pp pointed out, it says that nobody is "good enough".

The most well known verse about salvation is John 6:16--Whoever believes will be saved. It has nothing to do with personal goodness, because from the perspective of a perfect God, our good works are nothing (like filthy rags, in fact, according to the Bible.)

[Smokering]

Yeah, that. Nobody's good enough, because it's not about being good enough; it's about Christ being good enough to save even those who aren't good enough.

[kblackstone444]

Hmmm... maybe the original question should have been, "Is anyone unacceptable?" Not meaning axe murderers- the person needing to know isn't an axe murderer, to my knowledge, but just a regular believer who screwed up bigtime.

Long story short, and I may not have all the details, but when she was a teenager, her boyfriend got terminally ill and she prayed to God that she'd give her soul if he got better. It may or may not have been a coincedence, but he then found out it was a false alarm. My friend has worried since then that she's "not good enough". She didn't give her soul to the Satan- she gave it to God, so to speak, and she didn't really understand the ultmate consequenses at the time, but now she's afraid she's lost her chance to get into Heaven. (She has the same, or similar beliefs as I do- Christian but not Catholic.)

[CrunchyChristianMama]

"Is anyone unacceptable?"

No.

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last" Romans 1:17

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus to Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ." Romans 3:19-24

Hope that helps her.

[genifer]

Oh my word, No, I dont think she no longer qualifies. Roman's 8 says something amazing...

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Tell her to start from there, then tell I said to pour over the rest of the chapter, we find out how special we are in Christ in that chapter. All of creation is waiting in eager anticipation for the children of God to be revealed! She gave her life to Chirst, she is no longer condemned!

[cappuccinosmom]

Goodness, no, she's not unsaveable! How sad that she's worried about that.

the Apostle Paul was essentially a murderer, on his way to extinguish some more Christians when Jesus saved him.

Peter publically denied Christ 3 times, and is one of the greats of Christian faith. He also put his foot in his mouth innumerable times and said some really stupid stuff throughout his time with Christ.

I love the book of Romans (written by the aforementioned former-murderer!). That's a great place to start as suggested by the PP.

[Bluegoat]

Actually, giving up ones soul to God is normally considered a good thing.

Making bargains with God is perhaps somewhat immature, but likely not a sinful or bad action unless she was trying to make God do something against his will (impossible of course but people do try.) But even then, hardly an unforgivable action - very human really.

She might consider that if she made a promise to give herself up to God that she has made an obligation, and think about what that should mean in her life.

[cappuccinosmom]

Actually, giving up ones soul to God is normally considered a good thing.

I wonder if the OP meant the girl thought she was giving up her soul to the devil in exchange for her friends healing? Or giving up the salvation of her soul in exchange?

[kblackstone444]

Originally Posted by cappuccinosmom

I wonder if the OP meant the girl thought she was giving up her soul to the devil in exchange for her friends healing? Or giving up the salvation of her soul in exchange?

She said that she said (in her prayer to God) that she would trade her soul for the health of her boyfriend and she was talking to God, not the devil. That was what she said her exact words were, so I'm not sure what it was supposed to be a deal for, exactly. I'll be talking to her again Friday- I can ask what she meant then.

[hrsmom]

What a burden for your friend! I'd definitely share Romans 8:1 about no condemnation. I might also talk about how God is loving and doesn't want to condemn her soul. If anything, praying for a friend to be healed is a good thing, not something worthy of punishment. Yeah, we make bargains in times of stress and desperation, but (I always have to remember) God isn't a big bookkeeper in the sky. He just loves us.

[momo7]

Interesting question. I don't know of ANY verses that tell us that we are good enough (worthy). Common sense tells me that if we weren't worthy then Christ would not have made that ultimate sacrifice for us and endured the all of the sufferings. I also know that the Bible mentions God's love and infinite mercy for us over and over again. All of this would lead one to believe that we ARE worthy of salvation. Why would God do these things for us if we weren't?

[lilyka]

people say all kinds of crazy things to God. first of all I don't think God makes deals like that. secondly despite any crazy rambling, ravings or desperate silly traders we offer God's grace is sufficient for us.

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by momo7

Interesting question. I don't know of ANY verses that tell us that we are good enough (worthy). Common sense tells me that if we weren't worthy then Christ would not have made that ultimate sacrifice for us and endured the all of the sufferings. I also know that the Bible mentions God's love and infinite mercy for us over and over again. All of this would lead one to believe that we ARE worthy of salvation. Why would God do these things for us if we weren't?

Because his grace is infinite.

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by cappuccinosmom

It doesn't.

In fact, as the pp pointed out, it says that nobody is "good enough".

The most well known verse about salvation is John 6:16--Whoever believes will be saved. It has nothing to do with personal goodness, because from the perspective of a perfect God, our good works are nothing (like filthy rags, in fact, according to the Bible.)

I think you meant John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave is one and only son, that whosoever believed in Him, would not perish but have ever lasting life" (Thats probably chopped from a bunch of different versions :P)

No one is "good enough" to be saved. That's why Jesus came. He gave us the chance to go to heaven as long as we lay our life down for him.

I also believe everyone can go to heaven. However that is only through giving your heart to Jesus and confessing your sins to him and asking for forgiveness. No matter the "size" of the sin.

[Bluegoat]

There is a really good essay, a short one, by C.S. Lewis on this topic. I will try to find it. I think it's in the collection Fern Seed and Elephants.