If accepting Jesus and asking for forgiveness is all that matters - then why be good?

Question

I am sincerely asking this because I don't understand - if Christianity teaches you that the only accepting Jesus and asking for his forgiveness matters AND if you are not judged on your actions or works or character - then why be good?

You don't get into heaven by feeding the hungry or sheltering the homeless, you don't get it by helping an old lady across the street, you don't get it by being a good parent and anything that you do wrong will be forgiven.

So why be moral?

In the religion that I was raised in you are judged by your actions and deeds and character which seems to make a lot more sense to me. It would also seem to be a better formula for a good world.

A

Answer 1

Great question! I HAD a friend who e-mailed me almost every day preaching--I don't know what else to call it--that I could only be "redeemed" & go to heaven if accepting Jesus Christ as my savior, & being "good" to others had nothing to do with it. What
about "Do unto others...?" & don't you go to heaven if you're good, & to hell if you're bad? One is moral not out of fear of punishment, or desire for reward; we are or we aren't. Too many contradictions to take this religion seriously. You last paragraph was great.

Answer 2

Christians believe you will be judged for actions but they do not earn you salvation. Actions are as a result of faith. You help an old lady across the street because that is what Jesus would do not because it will get you into heaven.

Answer 3

Lets say that you smacked someone in the face for example... and you told them you are sorry. They forgave you. Then you went right back and slapped them again, and once again you told them you were sorry. what you become is a sorry person and not a sincere one when it comes to appologizing for doing something to hurt that person. Eventually you will be considerded not only a liar but your "I;m sorry's " mean nothing.

When you become a Chrsitian through accepting Jesus as your savior, by admitting to Him that you know He died on the cross for your sin, and repented, sincerely and did not just say that because you thought it was what Jesus wanted to hear, He knows the difference by the way... You become "born again" through inviting Jesus into your heart and life, giving up all old habits and sinful lifestyles, and are not to repeat them again.

Being a Christian is not easy, but you do have the help of Jesus to strenghthen you and guide you so you are stronger in your ability to resist the temptation of sinning again. When you stumble and do sin when you are a Christian, and you repent to Jesus in all sincerity, and once again, He knows the difference... Your sins will be forgiven. But if you keep falsing appologize to Him over and over again and repeat those same sins that you know are wrong in the eyes of God, He then turns your mind over to a reprobate, and will not hear you again, until you are truly sincere,and are on you own, until your repentance is real.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Answer 4

In Matthew 7:13 go in through the narrow gate because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction. and many are the ones going in thru it. Narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life. and few are the ones finding it.
Does that sound like all you have to do is believe? the Demons believe and shutter.
James says faith without works is dead in itshelf.
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone saying to me Lord Lord will enter into the kingdom of the heavens but the one doing the will of my father who is in the heavens will.
1 Cor 6:9 tells all the ones not making it into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 24:13 The one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. Many churches teach just send me the money and you will be saved. Come to church and bring the money.
Religious leaders sanction war and violence and say god told them to. but the bible says; Continue to love your enemies and pray for those persacuting you.
the religious leaders in Iraq told those young men strap on a bomb and when you kill innocent people you will go to heaven because they are the enemy. when you get to heaven 70 virgins wait for you to fill your every need. Do you believe that?
Jesus said; Watch out there is a lot of false prophets.
When you was a kid they told you there was a Santa Clause,
You believed that to. Was it true?

Answer 5

This is not true. It comes from the misunderstanding of Justification. We are not justified by anything we do but by what Christ does so some foolishly say it doesn't matter what we do. The Scripture says its not whether we accept Christ but whether He accepts us. We are dead and can do nothing unless He save us and gives us life. If He does then yes we are justified by faith in Him and forgiven. However we are also Sanctified by His Spirit and being born again we live a new life . That new life is the testimony of our true faith and so we are saved by faith but a faith that has no good works is a dead or useless faith. Those who have truly been born again and know the grace of God would never want to just live in sin because they truly love God.

Answer 6

Because there is more to it than just that. Read Acts 2. and after being saved one must then follow the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles to do good works and to lead others to Jesus

Answer 7

Because as Christians our main goal is to become Christ like, and the Bible says that Jesus went about doing good. Jesus also teaches that we are to feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless. As humans we are justified by our works but by faith, but it also says faith without works is dead.

Answer 8

Ah, Good question. First off, it's not just forgiveness, but repentance; you must WANT to change your ways, that is how you accept Christ.

But, accepting Christ is only the first step in your walk with Him, and that first step allows God to change you from within. If you trully have faith in Jesus and His love, then you just feel like spreading it around!

It's a process called sanctification; you're not holy or good, but you're becoming better through Christ.

It is through Faith that we are saved, but Faith without Works is dead. Works wont save you, but a living faith produces works anyways.

Answer 9

:) i believe once u accept Jesus as your savior, you are now FREE to do as many good things as possible....w/o fear of persecution, hurt, rejection, punishment.... but it is somewhat of a responsibility to do what is "good".... the difference is with God's Grace, we dont need to feel Guilty for mistakes we make, etc. u just have to pick urself up, and start over. you have that Ability to start over, and change you life!!! THAT, i believe, is God's message.. not "oh u believe, now u can act however u want and that's it"... no.. it's much deeper than that.

first of all, if u only DO good things to "look good" in front of others, to get recognition, that is wrong...! Jesus condemns the very people who do those things, the Religious leaders!

second, if u only say "Jesus died for our sins, i don't need to do anything", that is wrong also. accepting His payment for our sins, and being truly Thankful of His sacrifice, means to REJOICE in the Lord, and take that 2nd chance He has given us, to make a NEW life, to change ourselves, to become worthy of all the debt He has washed away...if you truly believe and rejoice in this, u will NOT feel the need to "not care" about doing the right thing or not.. it will be something u WANT to do. now u will follow those rules and regulations with JOY..not to achieve something.

try reading Romans 5-8 if u have the time.. really Opened my eyes to what it means to be Justified thru Jesus' Sacrifice, AS WELL AS put to good use your "new" life as one who accepts, glorifies, and rejoices in God's Grace.

good luck to us all~ and keep asking questions!! the more u seek, the more u will find :)

Answer 10

My friend...order is everything when it comes to "why" we obey the Bible. For example, the ten commandments was given to Moses as recorded in Deuteronomy 5: 7-22. However, the verse right before the list (verse 6) states "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." This order is critical because the Hebrews were supposed to obey God because He already brought them out of Egypt and slavery. It's not written the other way, that is to say, IF you obey these commandments, I will rescue you.

Another way of looking at it is, if a lifeguard plucks you out of the water right before you drown, what would your response to him be? You would be utterly grateful and thank him profusely. You would probably beg him to let you do something nice for him, like buy him lunch or whatever. That is our response with Jesus. Because Jesus has ALREADY saved us from death (if we choose to believe), we thank Him, and Honor Him by obeying His commands He clearly states in the Bible.