AREN'T YOU TIRED OF TRYING TO BE GOOD?

In the Bible, Abraham is repeatedly acknowledged as being right with God, because he trusted in Him (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; Jam. 2:23).  The Apostle Paul wrote of Abraham's faith being rewarded by God giving him a right-standing with Him; God declared Abraham to be righteous!  Even though Abraham was a sinner just like the rest of us, because He trusted the promises of God, God's own righteousness was imputed (given) to him!  In Romans 4:22-5:11, Paul explains this:

          "...God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that made him right with God.  Those words (God accepted Abraham's faith) were written not only for Abraham.  They were written also for us.  God will accept us also because we believe.  We believe in the One who raised Jesus our Lord from death.  Jesus was given to die for our sins.  And He was raised from death to make us right with God.  We have been made right with God because of our faith.  So we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy.  And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory.  And we also have joy with our troubles because we know that these troubles produce patience.  And patience produces character, and character produces hope.  And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts.  God gave us His love through the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to us.  Christ died for us while we were still weak (still sinners).  We were living against God, but at the right time, Christ died for us....We have been made right with God by the blood of Christ's death.  So through Christ we will surely be saved from God's anger (His judgment, His wrath).  I mean that while we were God's enemies, God made us His friends through the death of His Son.  Surely, now that we are God's friends, God will save us through His Son's life.  And not only that, but now we are also very happy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Jesus we are now God’s friends again."

Man has been trying to earn the right to spend eternity with God, by being religious; we have, in our ignorance, tried to obey religious dogma, and in so doing, we have actually tried to be perfect (righteous before God - Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:10; 10:3; etc.).  And yet, the Word of God is clear that our salvation is not the result of religious works, but is by faith in the finished work of Jesus; that is, in His death, burial, and resurrection, which fulfilled the Scriptures (Rom. 10:8-13; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.)!  Only God is righteous enough to dwell in heaven, and He offers it to us as a free gift - all we have to do is believe Him (Ps. 71:16; Mt. 6:33; Rom. 3:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9; etc.)!

 

If you are tired of trying to be good, GOOD!

Trust in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, and let God begin His work in you!