Let me get this straight about Christianity...The good deeds thing..?

Question

Now, as I saw by many Christians answering here on Yahoo, they insist that, in order to go to heaven you must do these 2 things:
-Believe in Jesus (And (or) in the trinity, God, etc)
-Repent from sins you do ASAP. Stating that ALL sins are equal, and no sin is 'larger' than another.

I see no enocouraging whatsoever to do good deeds. For example, Stealing is a sin, repenting means to sincerely will to stop stealing ever again, and maybe returning money to their owners. But you see no good deeds encouraged concerning money (Like charity).
Let me ask this as an example:
Let's say, hypothetically, that Hitler sincerely repented from all the sins he did (Massive murders, injustice, etc) and believed in Jesus, and died the very next day, without doing sins nor doing good things. And Mother Teresa died too, believed in Jesus, repented from her sins (Which are equal to Hitler's!!)and dedicated her whole life to helping the poor. Would she and Hitler be treated the exact same way?

Answer 1

Your confused again.
I seen God appear to me in Fog....read my story on mypage.
I still sin and I still do bad things because...it's not that important to what happened to me to change my life because God knew I wouldn't. He does know that I spread good news. I am one of the lucky ones on earth to have witnessed it.

Answer 2

The answer to that would be yes. What matters is what was in the heart of the one who belonged to Jesus.

Look up the parable in the bible about the vineyard and the workers who worked all day and the workers who only worked the last hours. They were all paid the same at the end of the day.
Some who worked all day were upset about this. They were told that they shouldnt be.

Now about "works" or "deeds". Once you are truely saved in your heart, you begin to feel the pull to do Gods will and way. This is the beginning of works. Just because someone didnt have time to do what they were feeling led to do before they died here on this earth, doesnt mean that they didnt feel the need in their heart to do these things.
This is the exact reason that the theif on the cross went to heaven without having done any works, because if he had somehow been allowed off the cross, he would have went out and started living for God and not himself. In his heart he was a changed man, even if he never got the chance to show it on the outside.

Answer 3

If it was truly heart felt and honest probably. Look at Darth Vader he blew up an entire planet and got to go with the good guys in the end because he destroyed the Evil Sith Lord. It is also said that one good act doesn't take away from a lifetime spent in depravity. It is also said that God will forgive you all your sins if you ask and except Jesus into your life. Peace.

Answer 4

Grace saves us. God wants to know us and He wants us to live the way He originally intended. Good deeds are things we should be doing anyway. No amount of good deeds makes our sins forgiven. Faith in the One that paid the ultimate price grants us that grace. You should look up the true meaning of the word, "Grace."

What you're getting at is that you feel that we should be able to earn our way into Heaven or God's graces. How would you set the bar? All sins are equal, so thinking thoughts about adultery would be just as sinful as killing an innocent puppy. So to earn repayment for both sins, the good deed required would be just as equal as the two sins. You're looking for fairness and ignoring right vs. wrong. Wrong is always wrong. It can't be more wrong.

Answer 5

No offense to anyone but I think a lot of people are going to be sorely disappointed when their time is up. That's just my opinion. It sickens me to think that pedophiles, rapists and men who beat their wives believe that going to church and repenting makes everything all better. Why not ask the victim how they feel about it? It sickens me even more that these people are actually forgiven sometimes AND given the spotlight for it. Why not praise a person that did no harm?

I'm with you on this one, I think there are some serious plot holes in the bible.

Answer 6

...Don't dream up hypothetical situations and make doctrines from them.
...The crucial thing is anyone's life is this:
What have I done with Jesus Christ? The bottom line is - I must trust in Him and Him alone as my Savior - nothing else matters more than this. Review these 6 points:
1. John 10:10b - Jesus said, "I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly."
...Why are most not experiencing this life?
2. Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
...All are sinners and there are consequences.
3. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
...The wages of sin is death, and that is eternal separation from God.
4. Habakkuk 1:13 "Thou are of purer to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity with favor."
...God is holy and just judge. He cannot tolerate sin in His presence.
5. John 1:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God - the word "Word" is speaking of Jesus Christ.
...2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
...Jesus is Eternal God, and died to pay for our sins. He was raised on the third day.
6. Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved..."
...Never mind Hitler or anyone else, you and I must believe on Him to be saved; and whoever else is saved is God's business.
...So what have you done with Jesus who is called Christ?

Answer 7

MANY PEOPLE ARE WRONG!

Two things:
1. 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
This is a CONDITIONAL statement. To have the cleansing, we MUST CONTINUE to "walk in the light."
It IS possible to "fall from grace." Galatians 5:4 "You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."

2. EVERY TIME scripture describes someone becoming a Christian, they are IMMEDIATELY BAPTIZED. This conflicts with Baptist and some other doctrines that were based on a variety of misunderstood scriptures, but becomes clear when you read the book of Acts, which records the beginnings of Christianity. There were NO CHRISTIANS during Jesus' lifetime. He lived and died as a Jew under the law.
Ac 2:37 When the people heard this, their hearts were filled with shame. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.” 40 Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them, “Save yourselves from these evil people.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

Answer 8

Both would have salvation. However rewards would be much greater for the works She did...

1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.


Jim

Answer 9

Yes, they would, friend. This may not make sense to my feeble mind, or yours, but God's ways are not our ways! Regarding good deeds, we don't choose to do good deeds, having given ourselves to God, we have enabled the Holy Spirit to work through us, and the Holy Spirit uses us to do good deeds! You are neither Hitler's judge, nor Mother Teresa's judge, God is!

Answer 10

My definition of Christian is a follower of Christ. Jesus Christ, who is God, became the one and only sacrifice for the salvation of mankind. - Jesus is God and there is one, not many paths that lead to God - Jn.3; Jn.14:5-6; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; Rom.10:10; Cols.1:20-22; Cols.2:13-15 After we die we go to our eternal reward of heaven or hell. - Salvation is not thru reincarnation or in living a pretty good life. - Whether we put our faith in Jesus while we lived on earth determines our eternal destiny. - No second chance after we die. No purgatory. When we die our destiny is sealed for ever. - Matt.3:12; Matt.25:41; Heb.9:27; Rev.20; Rev.21:27

According to Matthew 7, there will be those who stand before God and call themselves Christian but God will say "depart from me I never knew you". They were not building their lives on a Christian foundation or worldview. They were only Christian in name.

I can not pick and choose which parts of the Bible I will obey if I want to be a follower of Jesus!

A new generation of Christians are buying into the lie that you can be a Christian and pick and choose your values based on your own preferences instead of the absolutes of scripture.

Biblical absolutes, logic and reason are out of style and tolerance, choice and preferences are in.

This shift of worldviews has a great impact on our lives and church.

At one time the word "intolerance" was used for things such as racism but today it is being used against anyone who questions another person's values or belief system.

In the new worldview everything is relative. There is no right and wrong beliefs. There is no objective set of absolutes other then what the individual of community chooses.

The new measure of morality is "If it doesn't hurt anyone it is ok"

Of course this is all based on a lie. All sin hurts not only the individual but those around them and the very fabric of a society.

Anyone who claims to have absolutes is viewed as the new radical fundamentalists of society.

The scriptures, not the preferences of man are the basis for truth and so we have both authority and responsibility to speak and share our faith.

Ezek 3:18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

The universal truth for all cultures and peoples is written in the Bible:

John 14:5-6 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

What have you decided about Jesus?

Have you embraced not only Jesus but his teachings? Are you living a biblical worldview?

Are you walking in obedience to the absolutes of His word as the authority in your life for the decisions you make?

If not, according to the Bible, you really don't love Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15: "If you love me you will obey what I command". In other words if you love Jesus you will live by a Biblical worldview.

Answer 11

Thanks so much for your question, becaus as a believer in Jesus Christ, it is so important to remember this aspect of all He has done for me (For us all).

Doing good deeds (works) is the FRUIT of the CHRIS-ian life, but it is not what saves a person.

If we could do *anything* at all to save ourselves, we, being the self-seeking, sinners that we are would manage to boast and think that we had something to do with our salvation.

We are saved by GRACE, through FAITH


(Ephesians 2:8-9) - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

(Rom. 3:20,28) - "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin...28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."

(Galatians 2:16) - "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."
Saved by works

(James 2:24) - "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."

(Matthew 19:1617) - "And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" 17And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

I am here to say that, I am NOTHING without Christ who lives in me. Any good deed that comes from me is because of Him who lives in me.

Before I was saved, sure, I did good things now and again, but if I search my heart, I realize that I did those things to SEEK A REWARD whether that reward was a smile from someone, a pat on the back or simple, approval.

Now my heart, by the grace of God, seeks to please only my Savior and in my surrender, I am a better, WIFE, MOTHER, FRIEND, CITIZEN IN MY COMMUNITY and COUNTRY(wo)MAN. :)

God makes me a better person. I don't make me a better person!
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AS FAR AS HITLER GOING TO HEAVEN WITH ONLY REPENTANCE AND NO TIME FOR "GOOD DEEDS" Look what Jesus said to a thief who acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior and then died on a cross next to him...

Jesus said to the thief on the cross who repented:
"Today (Present tense) you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

This thief was neither baptized nor partook of the Lords supper or helped a little old lady across the street. He believed and was promised to be with Jesus. That is how wonderful God's forgivenss is. It is a FREE GIFT for any who would RECEIVE IT.

However, Remember that no matter the circumstances, God will know if someone is sincere about their repentence and I would never advise that someone wait until thier last few breaths to try and have a right heart with God.