They pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. (Rom. 9:32)
Expanded Passage: Romans 9:1-5, 14, 30-33; 10:1-3, 12-15; 11:25-27
The story goes that a man went to heaven and St. Peter stopped him at the pearly gates. Peter explained the qualifications for being admitted.
“You tell me all the good things you have done in your life, and I will tell you the point value for each item. It takes a hundred points to get into heaven.”
The man said, “I was married to the same woman for more than fifty years and I was faithful to her.”
“Great!” said Peter, “That’s worth two points.”
“Only two?” the man cried. “Well, let’s see. I also attended church faithfully each week and faithfully tithed my income.”
“Wonderful. That’s another point.”
“Only one? Well, I started a soup kitchen for the homeless and did many other good things in my community.”
“Super! Another point.”
“Only one more? At this rate, the only way I will ever get into heaven is by the grace of God!”
“Precisely!” said Peter. “Come right on in!”
Many people today think it’s all about the good things you do. If you do enough, you get in. If you don’t, you’re out of luck. It’s an age-old problem. Even the Jews, with the patriarchs and prophets in their background, still “pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.”
Thank God it doesn’t depend on our works, but “because of his mercy” (Titus 3:5).
Work for God; but depend on his mercy, not your good works.
Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church. He lives in Michigan and has two sons, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
