Most people try to live their lives the best they can. Of course, their decisions are framed by the culture in which they live and the influence of those close to them. Ultimately, people come to a place where they feel they are a good person. Then when someone comes along to say, “You are not as good a person as you thought,” it can be offensive. Who do they think they are anyway? Maybe they are self-righteous or a Mr. Goody Two Shoes. Nonetheless the question still comes back if we have brought ourselves to the place where God will allow us to come into heaven. Let us use examples of those things most people do but God would call sinful.
To take such an inventory we must refer back to the Bible. Many people would say that the church sets the standard for what is good or bad under the denominational leadership. However, we need to note that the Bible was written before any organization of the church. It is not the church that has authorized the Bible. It is instead the Bible authorized what is the true church. It is a basis on which all believers must ground their faith. Now let us look at some examples of how people who are good but yet are sinners needing a Savior.
The first problem is how we categorize sin. According to human thinking, there our little sins, regular sins, and big fat hairy sins. None of this is in conjunction with the Bible. James 2: 10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offended in one point, he is guilty of all.” That means the smallest sin makes us guilty of all sin! Now, look at some of those small sins that we need to confess in our prayers.
The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 5: 13 that gossiping is a sin. Everyone does it but that doesn’t make it right.
Philippians 2: 3-4 expects us to put others before ourselves without strife or vainglory.
I remember being frustrated with my job. Then I came across Colossians 2: 23 that told me whatever I do should be unto the Lord and not just man. As a believer, I was really employed by God who allowed me to work at that particular job. Therefore, I needed to adjust my attitude.
A tough verse to apply and not sin is in Philippians 4: 4 that says we should be moderate. So, we should not go to extremes. Whether we are eating, how we dress, or the attitudes we have.
A verse is often misquoted or misapplied is in Galatians 6: 7 that warns us whatever we do so we shall also reap. How many of us are actually careful of what we put into life knowing that could come back to bite us? Certainly, we should watch over our conduct knowing that we will bring consequences upon ourselves in the end.
A false profession before men is very dangerous according to Titus 1:16; 3:8 that says our works reveal what we are really like inside. God knows what we are really like. He knows if we have a genuine relationship with Jesus as Savior or pretending to be a believer. Our works tell on us.
These are just a few verses that are examples of how we can overlook vital Scriptures and not take them seriously. I’m not saying that we should be legalistic. I am saying that as we read the Bible, we will grow more spiritually if we apply what we read into our daily lives. This is why it is a three-step process of having a relationship with God. We must believe in our hearts that Jesus is the son of God who died for us on the cross and was resurrected for victory over death. We must confess with our mouths that we are sinners. Part of our living for God is to share with others our relationship with him and how they can have a relationship also with the Almighty.
Christian Writer 