View source for Does a Christian have to be good

== Intro ==
Does a christian have to be good to go to heaven. 
{{ PreB |
([[Matthew 19|Matthew 19:16-26]] [KJV])
 [16] And, behold, one came and said unto him, '''Good Master''', what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
 [17] And he said unto him, {{ font color | red |'''Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God''': but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.}}
 [18] He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, {{ font color | red |Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
 [19] Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.}}
 [20] The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
 [21] Jesus said unto him, {{ font color | red |If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.}}
 [22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
 [23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, {{ font color | red |Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
 [24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.}}
 [25] When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
 [26] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, {{ font color | red |With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.}}
}}
As you can see in Mt19:17 Jesus says that there are none good but one, that is God the Father in Heaven.

So as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you are redeemed rather than good.

You don't go to heaven by being good. You go to heaven by being redeemed.

== Comment ==

You could claim that Jesus is God, which he is and therefore he is good, just like God the Father in Heaven and the Holy Ghost.

I don't know really how to interpret it. 

There are two ways I think. One way is that this statement in [[Matthew 19]] was before the resurrection. The other way I think to interpret it is that the rich young man didn't have the discernment to understand that Jesus was God. Just like [[Rich young man|the rich young man]] didn't get saved because he didn't call Jesus Lord as the others did who got saved in the gospels.

== See also ==

* [[Rich young man]]

== References ==
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[[Category:article]][[Category:english]][[Category:salvation]]__FORCETOC__[[Category:autonomous]]