NO ONE IS SAVED BY WORKS OF LAW

Galatians 2:16 tells us: “for by works of law shall no flesh be justified.” People do get confused about Heaven and Hell. We live in an era where most people are closet Universalists, in that down deep they believe ALL will eventually make it to Heaven. In all my years of ministry, I’ve only once stood by a casket wherein lay someone the family didn’t think was going to Heaven. Most are convinced that we’ll all see each other on the other side. After all, We’re good people, Right?
Some believe that God has a pair of scales and if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, then you go to Heaven; if not, you go to Hell, or Purgatory, or get another shot at it in another life. We just can’t accept that our goodness accounts for nothing as far as where we will spend eternity. Scripture is quite clear on this subject. God wants to populate Heaven with people of faith who have trusted His provision, Jesus, for that which we are incapable of attaining on our own. As declared throughout the New Testament, Eternal Life is the GIFT of God! You can’t earn it! Eph. 2:8, 9.
AuThor

Advertisement

Does God Hear Prayers of Unbelievers?

Does God Hear the Prayers of Unbelievers?
Quite frequently people cry out, “Oh, God!” in times of peril. Sometimes they use the term so flippantly that it means nothing, however, in times of distress, it could be called a prayer. Does God hear these prayers? Recalling God’s attributes, I would have to say that He is certainly aware of the prayers of unbelievers, but the only prayer that He has obligated Himself to hear is the prayer of repentance or the prayer of faith, in which case that person ceases to be an unbeliever…
The promises of scripture that God gives His Children are not given to unbelievers. He doesn’t promise ‘to hear them’, ‘to be with them’, ‘to protect them’, ‘to meet their needs’, or ‘to fulfill their desires’. In His mercy and grace, He certainly may, but is not so obligated.
I have five kids. Three are natural; two are adopted. With each child, we have entertained friends in our home. Some even called me Dad. I remember once my oldest daughter (adopted) asking for money to go to the movies. Her best friend followed, “Dad, can I have $10.00 to go to the movies, too?” I said, “I don’t know you!” Of course, I knew her and probably even gave her the money, but I was under NO obligation to do so. She wasn’t my responsibility. Although there is NO difference in my obligation to my natural or adopted kids, (they are all heirs and joint heirs sharing equally my inheritance) the friends will not share that inheritance.
In the case of unbelievers, they have by choice opted to: 1. Have their needs met; 2. their desires fulfilled; and 3. their identities defined apart from God.
AuThor