Is it possible to be too good
to be saved? According to Jesus, the Savior, it is certainly
possible. When
Jesus was upon the earth headed toward the cross of Calvary, many in that day
were too good to be saved. Some were Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes. Others
were folks like the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-27 and Luke
18:18-27), and then the lawyer in Luke 10:25-30. Let us not forget those who
were chief priests and elders. And what about the Herodians mentioned in
Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12-13-17 and Luke 20:20-26? Not all, but most of these
mentioned, and others, thought they were too good for anything Jesus had to
offer. For that matter, they accused Him of being a blasphemer, and eventually
crucified Him. Do we dare omit the faceless crowd that stood before Pilate and
cried out, “Crucify Him!” and “His blood is on us and on our children!”
All of these people thought
they were good enough. They went to Sunday school and church every time the doors
were open. They paid their tithes. They said their prayers at night (Now I lay
me down to sleep…..). They paid their bills. They kept all the Ten Commandments
… well maybe most … Uh some … well a couple … maybe. They were good people for
crying out loud! They weren’t sinners like those prostitutes and tax
collectors. They don’t murder, steal, drink, smoke, chew or run around with
those who do.
For Pete’s sake! These folks
were preachers well known in the media, respected community leaders, Bible teachers,
seminary professors, and well-educated for the most part. They were attorneys,
politicians, doctors, celebrities; even many were just average hard-working folks;
farmers, plumbers, electricians, fishermen, etc. who raised respectable
families who contributed to the community and were known by all for their good
deeds. Some were even on the cover of the most popular magazines of the day.
Yes, good, respectable folks!
I am not attempting to
provide a list of people in certain categories that are too good to be saved. It
isn’t about the lists. It is about the heart. From the lips of most you will
hear, “I’m sure my good will outweigh any bad. The scales will balance. Besides,
God is a loving God and would not send anyone to hell, if there is such a place.”
Now let’s hear what Jesus has
to say about it:
“The
lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body
will be full of light. (22) “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be
full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great
is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)
If the eye is blind, there
can be nothing but darkness inside. Jesus is saying that if we can see the
Truth, seeing ourselves as God sees us and our need for Him to save us, then we
can be saved, but if we think we’re ‘good enough’ we’ll never see that need and
we will remain in darkness and lost forever.
“No
one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)
Only God knows just how many
people call themselves Christians, but are actually Christians-in-name-only.
They are no more a Christian than the car that sits in their driveway. Far too
many think their soul is like a townhouse. Jesus can live on one side and Satan
on the other. Actually, most think they can let Jesus live in a small room in
the back of the house while the rest of the house is for their pleasure. Sorry,
but the Holy Spirit of God cannot and will not set up housekeeping with
“mammon.” (Jesus is not talking only of ‘money’ by the way. He is referring to
anything we put above Him.) Again, it can’t be done. It won’t be done. It is
either God or mammon, but it can’t be both.
“When
Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick. (12) “But go and learn what this means: ‘I
desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners, to repentance.”” (Matthew 9:12-13) – (Hosea 6:6)
All Jesus is saying here is that
those who know they are sinners and call out to Him to be healed, He will heal/save
them. All those who think they’re special and don’t need a Physician will die
in their sins.
Would Jesus identify us with
the Pharisee or the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14?
Jesus is also stressing that
He doesn’t want our works. He wants His works done in us. He wants our heart.
“Now
it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners
also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they
followed Him. (15) And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the
tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats
and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” (16) When Jesus heard it, He said
to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are
sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark
2:15-17)
It is clear that even Jesus
can’t help a person if that person doesn’t think he needs help, but those who
know they are sick may call out to Him and He will heal them.
“And
Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not
see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” (39) Then some of the
Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind
also?” (40) Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but
now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (John (9:39-41)
When Jesus said, “For
judgment I have come into this world…” He is speaking of the judgment He will
endure on the cross for us. He came into this world to go to the cross for us.
The Pharisees were blind.
They were blind to their need to be saved. Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, and all are sinners. However, we must see that we are sinners and need
to be saved, then we can be saved by calling upon Him.
Finally, the apostle Paul
said:
“This
is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
Much of this can be clarified
by a quote from Dr. J. Vernon McGee:
“I
believe it is easier to reach a godless atheist than a hypocritical churchgoer.
The godless atheist may respond when he hears the Gospel for the first time,
but the hypocritical churchgoer has heard the Gospel again and again and has
become hardened to it. That is the real tragedy.”
That was exactly the problem
with the Pharisees. They had become hardened to the Gospel. Many today have
become hardened to the Gospel. But those who know their life is in shambles,
and hear the Gospel, will more likely call out to Jesus to be saved.
Jesus came to save sinners,
and until we recognize that we are a sinner, we will remain blind. The apostle
Paul through the Holy Spirit has some very good advice.
“Examine
yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know
yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.”
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
Hundreds, thousands, perhaps
millions of people are going through life walking arm and arm with Satan toward
hell. Any second their foot could slip into that eternal abyss. They think they
see, but Jesus says they are blind. Jesus came to save sinners. Don’t allow
Satan to steal your most precious possession … your eternal soul. Call out to
God and ask Him to open your eyes, then put your hand in His.
How about it? Are you too
good to be saved?
Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
