Sorry, Mr. President, Good Deeds Won’t Get You Into Heaven

First, let me make clear that this is NOT a political post. It’s simply a response to a) the President openly expressing his desire to get into Heaven and hoping that the good work he has done helps him get there, and b) numerous responses from people I know and people I never met that have pinged off the President’s comments doubling down on this idea of “if I do enough good I can get into Heaven.”

Friends, I don’t know how to break it to you, but good deeds do not get us into Heaven. I believe many of you know that. I think the President, who is surrounded by our society’s most renowned pastors, knows this, too.

Our entrance into Heaven isn’t based on anything we do, other than professing our belief in Jesus Christ for our salvation. The Bible clearly and succinctly teaches us that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This emphasizes that our good works are a response to God’s love and grace, not the means by which we earn our salvation. The good deeds we do flow from our faith and relationship with God.

James 2:17 NLT

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Our good deeds are important, as they reflect the fruits of our faith, but it is through grace, not our good deeds, that we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and gain entrance into Heaven.

To be saved by grace means to receive the unmerited favor of God, resulting in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than through any human effort or merit. This concept is central to the Christian faith.

Being saved by grace also means to acknowledge our need for God’s intervention in our lives, recognizing that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross reconciles us with God, opening the door to eternal life. It calls us to live in response to that grace, reflecting God’s love in our actions and relationships with others.

Grace signifies that salvation is a gift from God, given freely to those who believe in Christ, without conditions of worthiness. The entirety of our salvation is based on the faithfulness and obedience of Christ. It’s through His work that we can be saved. We cannot earn God’s love or forgiveness; it is solely by His mercy.

Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

True faith is not merely a belief or profession; it must be accompanied by actions. Otherwise, it’s just empty talk.

The fruits of our faith are the good works and righteous actions that flow from a genuine relationship with God. We are grateful for the gift God has given us.

Examples of these fruits are:

1. Love: Acting selflessly towards others, as seen in the call to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39).
2. Compassion: Helping people in need, as exemplified in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
3. Kindness: Treating others with generosity and grace (Galatians 5:22-23).
4. Service: Serving people in humility, following the example of Christ (Mark 10:45).
5. Obedience to God’s Commandments: Living in accordance with God’s will and teachings (John 14:15).

These fruits are all evidence of the transformative power of faith in our life. While faith alone brings salvation, genuine faith manifests itself through our actions. Our deeds reflect Christ’s love and character. What we do matters. In essence, the fruits of our faith testify to the authenticity of our relationship with God and the impact of His grace in our life.

Identifying the fruits of faith in our life involves self-reflection and spiritual examination. Here are some steps rooted in biblical principles that can help us discern this fruit:

1. Examine Our Actions: Reflect on how we treat others. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the Fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Are these qualities evident in my daily interactions with others?
2. Assess Our Heart: Jesus taught in Matthew 7:16-20 that “You will know them by their fruits.” We should consider our motivations and desires. Are they aligned with God’s will? Do we seek to put others before yourself? OR are we always first?
3. Seek God’s Guidance in Prayer: Ask God to reveal the areas in our life where we may need growth. James 1:5 encourages us to ask for wisdom. In prayer, let us be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading and conviction regarding our faith and actions.
4. Engage in Community: We should surround ourselves with people who can give us encouragement and provide us with a sense of accountability. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us to stir one another to love and good works.
5. Reflect on Our Service: Let us consider how we serve others. Are we involved in acts of kindness, whether through our church or community? Ephesians 2:10 reminds us we are God’s workmanship created for the work He has laid out before us.
6. Look for Spiritual Growth: Notice areas where we have grown during our walk with Christ, such as increased patience or a greater ability to forgive. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us.
7. Read and Meditate on Scripture: Engaging with God’s Word allows us to better understand His will and how we can live it out. Psalm 119:105 teaches us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Acts 19:3 NIV

So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

By intentionally engaging in these practices, we can better discern the fruits of faith in our life and see where God is working within us, guiding us toward a fuller expression of His love and grace. This is why we have been given the Holy Spirit.

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In John 14:6, Jesus clarified that He alone is the way to Heaven. Christ alone. Nothing else. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior is the key to eternal life with Him.

While good deeds and righteous living are important outcomes of genuine faith, they are not the means by which salvation is earned. Instead, they are evidence of a transformed life that comes from truly believing and accepting Christ. Salvation is and always has been a gift from God.

Acts 16.31 ESV

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

To get into Heaven, we must place our trust in Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, and believe in His redemptive work on the cross, which grants forgiveness and reconciles us with God. Good deeds follow as a response to that faith, not as a prerequisite for salvation.

Hope that helps clarify how we get into Heaven. Sorry, Mr. President, but good deeds alone won’t get you there.

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

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The Stigma Stops Here.🛑

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