Are we trying to earn our way into heaven?
2006-10-20 19:07:13 · 18 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Paul said "It's by grace that you are saved ,by faith and not by works least any man boast(say,"I did more than you did ,I'm more saved").
We do good things BECAUSE we are saved not to get saved.To show God we are thankful.
Paul also said "It's a gift,and a gift can't be earned otherwise it's wages.."
and we all know what the wages of sin are?
2006-10-20 19:13:54 · answer #1 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm An Atheist we do Good Works too,
Doing Good doesn't make you go to Heaven, and Doing something Bad doesn't make you go to Hell, It just means that you're Responsible Person doing something Good, You're a Irresponsible Person doing Something Bad.
I don't believe in Heaven or Hell, but I know the Difference between Good and Bad.
2006-10-21 02:15:18 · answer #2 · answered by tfoley5000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why Christians do good works, but God doesn't have hands, eyes, ears, arms, He can't physically assist us; but, when we are the hands, eyes, ears and arms of God--when we serve our fellow man, we are worshipping God.
He owns it all; he doesn't need anything from us, but our service to each other. He serves us through each other.
If I sit up in church on Sunday morning worshipping God, what does He need with my worship. But, if I'm serving His creatures, then, I'm serving Him. The Baha'i Faith teaches that work, when done in the spirit of service to mankind (not, merely, for a paycheck) is the same as worshipping God.
We should be consciously looking for ways to serve every person who crosses our path every day, beginning with whoever our spouse is, our immediate family, our extended family, the people we work with, the stranger who passes us in the street, people who serve us, our enemies--we should be looking for opportunities to serve each other--then, we are worshipping God. In every face, we should see the face of God.
We are one soul (God) in many bodies. When we make others happy it makes us happy. When we do harm to others, it comes back to us, maybe not from the person we do harm to, maybe from a different direction; but, it always comes back.
When we neglect to do something we could/should do, that's more karma that won't come back to us. If our lives aren't happy, we should take a look at what we do or don't do, to and/or for others to see why. When we live in such a way, we ARE in heaven, right here on earth. It's just a matter of what goes around, comes around. A law of the universe. Has nothing to do with earning our way into heaven. It's cause and effect. Nothing more, nothing less.
2006-10-21 02:26:59 · answer #3 · answered by GypsyGr-ranny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can in no way earn our way to Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8&9 tell us that we are saved by grace through faith. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
According to the book of James, our faith is showed, or proven by our works.
2006-10-21 02:10:34 · answer #4 · answered by oltmprch 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the context of James 2, it's much less a matter of us doing good works as it is yielding to what the Lord wants to do through us. The problem, IMO, is that far too many people claim the name of Christ but then don't follow where He wants them to go. They will do things that they THINK are "good works" but that are not at all what He wants. First and foremost, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Good works--God doing good works through us as we yield to His will--will follow. But works cannot and never will get us into heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes that perfectly clear.
2006-10-21 04:35:31 · answer #5 · answered by Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good works CANNOT earn anyone into Heaven. You need to accept Christ.
However, faith without works is dead.
2006-10-21 02:12:28 · answer #6 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, we're not doing good just to earn our way into heaven. We do them only for the sake of doing good, because good is good!
2006-10-21 02:09:37 · answer #7 · answered by Developing Love 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christ did good works, and he told us to follow his example, so therefore, Christians (believers in Christ) should do so. Also, no unclean/evil thing can enter into God's presence so we need to be as clean and good as we can, and Christ makes up where we lack if we're worthy, which is what the Atonement was for.
2006-10-21 02:16:45 · answer #8 · answered by Rainfog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we should ALL do good works..we are here to help each other through life.. "good works"are associated with Christians or religious types because they do more of what we all should be doing...it is an example every one should follow..just think of the world we could have!!!!!!!! doing good never hurt anyone!!!!!!
2006-10-21 02:20:12 · answer #9 · answered by maengun 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing good deeds is a part & parcel of Christianity. ---heaven or no heaven, we go on doing it, as Jesus did all his life.
2006-10-21 02:10:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋