"Good Isn't Good Enough"

He “was a devout man, one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2).  His name was Cornelius, and he was a good man.  Yet, he was told that in the sight of God there were some things he lacked.  He was directed to Simon Peter who would tell him what he must do (Acts 10:6).  When Peter came to visit him, Cornelius was waiting for him with his relatives and close friends (Acts 10:24).  Peter taught Cornelius and his family and friends about Jesus Christ – His authority, His power, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His future role as Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:34-42).  
Peter also proclaimed the "GIFT" that Jesus offered:  “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins … 
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:43, 48).

Why was a good man – a God-fearing man – told to believe in Jesus and be baptized (immersed in water) in the name of the Lord?

Cornelius was a good man, but he was still a sinner; he needed forgiveness for his sins.  So do you.  So do I.  “As it is written:  ‘There is NONE righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all gone out of the way; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10-12).

Cornelius, as well as many others, could declare:  “I am basically a good person.  
I pay taxes.  I don’t cheat on my wife.  I don’t do anything to hurt other people.  
In fact, I try to help others.  Why do I need forgiveness?”

Cornelius learned that just being a good, moral person isn’t enough.  He needed Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that is found in Him.

Sin is not only breaking the law of God (1 John 3:4); it is also failing to be what God intended for us to be.  There are sins of commission – sins we commit – and there are sins of omission – things we should do, but don’t. The truth is that no one can ever be good enough to earn salvation.  Only through Jesus Christ can one be saved (Acts 4:12).

God wants us to be good (see Acts 10:35), but He knows – just as you and I know – that we can NEVER be perfect.  Each day we fall short in some way, either in thought, attitude, word, or deed.  In short, WE ARE SINNERS, and we NEED 
a Savior!  

God, in His great love and mercy, gave us His Son to provide for us what we need the most:  forgiveness.  Through faith (Acts 10:43), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession (Romans 10:9-10) and baptism (Acts 10:48; 2:38), and faithfulness to Christ (1 John 1:7), we receive forgiveness in Christ.

God loves good people, BUT being good isn’t good enough.  ALL people EVERYWHERE – the good and the bad – need the salvation from sin which God has provided.

We must not TRUST in our good works, but rather CONTINUE in them, while trusting and obeying Jesus Who ALONE has finished the work.

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:

                      HTML version:  subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net
                   TEXT version:  subscribe-livingwater-text@lyris.dundee.net

Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchsearch.org

Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org