I’m Good
My brother who lives out of state, recently came to visit me. He stayed at my house for a few days and we had great time visiting. Being a good host, I frequently asked my brother if he wanted some tea, or soda or water to drink and most of the time he’d reply, “I’m good.” He’d say I’m good. Then I would politely tell my brother that none of us are good. Jesus said there’s none good, but God (Mark 10:18).
Even though my brother is a believer in Christ Jesus, he’s just fallen into the habit of saying, “I’m good” when someone offers him something and he doesn’t need anything at that moment. After he got back home, he told me that he’d been thinking about how he says that and how I pointed out that Bible says none of us are good. He’s now working on not saying that because he is a follower of Christ and my brother knows the Bible says that none of us are good (Isaiah 64:6).
The Bible says that we go astray from the womb. King David said that in iniquity (or in sin) did his mother conceive him and she was married to David’s father. So he wasn’t referring to any sexual immorality on his mother’s part. No, David was merely pointing out that we are all born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5). It is human nature to go away from God, to do what we want to do.
Not The Only One
My brother isn’t the only one who says “I’m good.” We frequently hear this while we are out street witnessing. For over 10 years now I’ve asked people if they are good and 95% or more say yes, they are good. This makes sense if you think about it. You do what you do, because you think what you are doing is right.
One time I was on the square witnessing and I talked to a young man that told me he had just arrived in Springfield. He’d been in the state penitentiary in Jefferson City and had literally just gotten out of prison. We talked for a while, then I asked him if he thought he was a good person. (I really thought oh boy, I’ve got him now. There’s no way he can say that he’s good). So I asked the question and to my surprise, he answered, “Yes, I’m a good person.” Immediately I protested and said, “But you just told me that you’d just gotten out of prison. How can you say that you are a good person?” With a straight face he replied that he’d only stolen something in order to feed his family, so that didn’t make him bad.
That’s when I realized that people do what they want to do and they think what they are doing is right, no matter how wrong they are. People just justify what they are doing, even when they get caught doing something wrong. The young man who had just gotten out of prison was an extreme example. You see, most people I ask if they are a good person genuinely believe they are good. Most have not been in prison. They aren’t murderers or rapists. Most people watch the national news and think, “I’m not as bad as that murderer.”
Crux Of The Problem
That’s the crux of the problem folks. Most people consider themselves to be good because they are comparing themselves to others. Even the most vile, mass murderer in prison today can comfort himself that he’s not as bad as Adolph Hitler. People can try to justify themselves, no matter how bad or evil they are because there’s always someone who is worse or more evil than they are.
But that’s the real issue. People think they are good because they compare themselves to other people. But other people are not the standard. When you die and stand before God on Judgement Day, He’s not going to compare you to other people. No, God is going to hold you to His standard of perfection. God gave us the 10 Commandments so we can see that none of us measure up to God. God is Holy, righteous and just. He is perfect. You and I are not. You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but we both know neither one of us are perfect. We know that we are not perfect. You even know this tonight, no matter how good you think you are – you are not perfect. I am not perfect.
But without Holiness, without righteousness, none can stand in the presence of Almighty God. So what are we to do? Is all lost? Is all hopeless? Is everyone doomed for Hell to suffer for all eternity? Absolutely not. Jesus Christ is the perfect One. Jesus suffered, bled and died in the place of guilty sinners. Salvation is available to all who repent and put their trust in Jesus. The Bible says we are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).
The Key
The key is to stop seeing yourself as a good person and see yourself as you really are – a person that’s not so good after all. Please know that my friends and I don’t think we are better than anyone else. We have already recognized that we were not good and that only God is good. Jesus is God and He is the only Savior. Oh, put your trust in the One who saves. Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
We are pleading with you tonight to turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. The Lord Jesus told a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee (a religious leader), and the other a publican (tax collector). The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted (Luke 18:10-14).
Don’t Be Like The Pharisee
Oh, don’t be like the Pharisee thinking that you are a good person. None of us are good. No, be like the tax collector. Humble yourself before God. Recognize that you are a sinner. Cry out for God to have mercy upon you. God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Humble yourself tonight. Admit that you are a sinner. Cry out for God to save you. Repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus.
Trust in the Lord Jesus for your salvation. He is the only Savior of mankind. Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now. Oh, come to Jesus and be saved. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ the Lord. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Willingly bow your knee to King Jesus. Repent and believe the Gospel.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14-15). This is the first message Jesus preached 2,000 years ago and it’s still the same message we preach today – repent and believe the Gospel.
You cannot work your way to Heaven. You cannot earn salvation. It is a free gift from God. Turn from your sins and turn to Christ Jesus and live. Repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Oh, come to Jesus and be saved. Today is the day of salvation. Don’t put it off. You are not guaranteed next week or even tomorrow. What if this were your last day on this earth? Are you prepared to meet your Maker?
You Can’t Be Good Enough For God To Save You
If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then you are not prepared. You can’t be good enough for God to save you. We’ve all sinned against God. None of us are righteous or in a right standing with God on our own. That’s why we need a Savior. We need an Advocate. Someone who is righteous. Someone who can stand before God in our place. Jesus is the only one who can do this. Oh, trust Jesus. Trust Him today for your salvation. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus and be saved.
Still think you are good? Please listen to John 3:36: He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. You can foolishly continue thinking you are a good person, that you are good on your own. But none of us are good. That’s why you must turn from your sins and turn to the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Those who do so, receive everlasting life. But those who do not do so, even those who think they are good, God’s wrath abides upon them.
It should scare you to have God’s wrath abiding upon you. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). Oh, do not foolishly die in your sins. Don’t die thinking you are a good person. Instead, turn to the One who is good. Turn to the Good Shepherd. Turn to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t foolishly continue going through life saying “I’m good” and do so until you are cast into Hell. Repent and trust Jesus to save you. Do this today and be saved.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on July 30, 2021)