"BORN OF GOD" DEVOTIONAL BOOK

Some believe good people go to heaven, and bad people go to hell.  THIS IS NOT TRUE!  If only good people went to heaven, none of us would be there because, "There is none that doeth good, no, not one  (Romans 3:12b)."  If only bad people went to hell, we would all be there because, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God  (Romans 3:23); Let us consider some who went to hell, one who went to heaven, and the difference.

The rich man:  Luke 16:22-23, "...the rich man also died and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,"  The Bible gives no record of this man doing anything evil, although all men are sinners.  The rich man did, however, ask Father Abraham to send Lazarus to testify to his brothers, "Lest they also come into this place of torment  (v-28c)  ."  Abraham said, Luke 16:31, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."  It is obvious the rich man did not believe in God while on the earth, but he became a believer in Hell.  He believed, but too late!

The Pharisee:  Luke 18:11-14 relates the life of the Pharisee. He testified that he was not an extortioner, unjust, or an adulterer, but fasted twice a week, gave tithes of all his possessions, and was obviously a religious leader.  He depended upon his own apparent goodness rather than on Jesus Christ.  Jesus plainly said the Pharisee was not justified.

King Agrippa:  When the Apostle Paul was speaking to King Agrippa, he said, "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?  I know that thou believest.  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian  (Acts 26:27-28)  ."  King Agrippa was in charge of the temple at Jerusalem and was the one who designated the High Priest.  The Bible gives no record of King Agrippa being wicked, but he apparently died without Christ.

The thief on the cross:  Remember the thief on the cross with Christ?  He confesssed he was condemned justly and deserved the death penalty.  We have no record of this thief ever doing one good deed, joining a church, giving a tithe, or being baptized.  This man was not good, but he believed in Jesus.  This is indicated by:  confession of sin, acknowledging Jesus as Lord, and his request to Jesus.  Jesus said, to this wicked man, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise  (Luke 23:43) .

Conclusion:

A.  No sins of the flesh ever sent a soul to eternal punishment.

B.  No goodness of the flesh ever admitted one soul into heaven.

C.  The sin that damns souls for all eternity is "UNBELIEF".

D.  Eternal salvation of the soul is God's gift to BELIEVERS.

E.  BELIEF and UNBELIEF are actions of the inward man, not the flesh, and the one who TRUSTS in Jesus Christ will never have reason to DISTRUST.  The inward person  (soul)  , who is born of God, cannot disbelieve  (sin)  and that soul can never be lost.

(If this seems difficult, please review:  I John 3:6, 9: 5:4, 18)

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