When Is Good, Good Enough? — Shane Idleman

The Law's Standard Exceeds Human Righteousness

The deficit in the law and I could spend a whole sermon here, but I'm not going to this is very critical. Jesus said for I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

When he said that to a Judy Jewish audience, they probably almost fell back. He said well who then can be saved. Nobody can it can exceed the righteousness. Nobody can they had the letter of the law? They had it down.

Paul's Former Pharisaic Righteousness

That's why they were the religious leaders. Paul said I was a Pharisee of Pharisees. I had the law blameless. I was this circumcised. I was a tribe of this boom boom boom people are saying now. What are we going to do?

Humanity's Inability to Meet God's Standard

We cannot enter the kingdom of heaven In a nutshell and I don't have time to break this down. If we did part two I would but he's basically saying there's none that are righteous. No, not one your your righteousness has to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

Imputed Righteousness Through Christ

It can't do that. Exactly, that's why you need my Christ imputed righteousness. There's a big theological term that the seminary students don't think. I know. Imputed imputed righteousness your Christ is imputing giving us his righteousness.

We're right standing with God because of what Christ did so that's the only way. That's why we can't say but I'm a good person. I'm a good person. I hear that more than anything else. I'm sure I'm gonna hear it more.

Do you not but I'm a good person Shane. I don't care. It doesn't matter how good you are. Was Noah good enough. Was Abraham good enough. Was Moses good enough. Was Joshua good enough. Was Paul good enough.

Was Peter good enough? No. Nobody was good enough. So, why do we think we can be good enough? We can't good is never good enough. That's why we have to take Christ. Can I have your imputed righteousness?

Repentance and Faith in Christ

Can I have that? How do I get that by repenting and believing in the only name that saves Lord? I repent of my sin. I take on that imputed righteousness now I can be in right relationship with God and there's many people filling our churches that are good people, but good is not good enough.

The Cross Bears the Penalty of the Law

That's all this verse if you were to break it down the cross is not some general display of love. It's not it wasn't meant to be just a symbol. It wasn't meant to just display it as decor. Christ bore and endured and received the pole the full penalty of the law.

The Cross as the Wrath-Bearing Sacrifice of Christ

That's what the Christ the cross is about. The cross is messy. It's blood-stained. It's ruthless. It's cruel. That's the cross the cross of Christ the wrath of God being poured out upon Christ. It's not some little symbol.

It's not an icon. It's not decor. It's ugly and that's okay. Can we still have in our house, of course because as long as you remember what it's there for. When Jesus would say if you want to follow me You must carry your cross.

Counting the Cost of Following Jesus

You must die to self. Why don't we say that anymore? You want to follow Christ? Just say this little prayer. Jesus can make your life so much better. So great. Yeah, brother. Just we don't say it's dying to self.

Are you ready to come follow Jesus and die? That's what it is count the cost count the cost of the cross. That have been another good title is we need to always remember. That's what communion is for to count the cost and remember the cost.

Genuine Faith Versus Religious Performance

So just remember about this text that good is never good enough. Jesus said unless your righteousness exceeds the highest standard. Which it can't you will not enter the kingdom of God of heaven and that needs to get out.

I think that's one of the reasons our churches are complacent as people are not saying this in love. Listen. You're not good enough. Just going to church is enough. Just reading the Bible isn't up being a baptizer if it isn't enough saying a quick little prayer at 12 years old is not enough.

Genuine faith has genuine fruit and there's a lot of people doing good things doing the right things because they're trying to change an Environment or they're trying to please somebody or they're thinking this or if God will see this God allow no, no.

Judgment Based on What Was Done With Christ

He's just gonna look at what Christ did. I've had somebody very close to me many years ago when I was telling him this he said well I just hope God sees all my good stuff. I've done too. So no you won't.

God's not gonna get good. Well, he did this and then he's gonna say what did you do with Christ? My law condemns Christ releases. That's it.