Holdenites Can't be Good Enough
According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 18,799 people living in Holden. 14.5% are over 65. 25.4% are under 18. We have soccer moms, office workers, engineers, accountants, doctors, football coaches, and police officers. We’re a financially successful town with only 3.1% living below the poverty line compared to Worcester’s 22.4%. In Holden, 95.6% graduated high school and 51.7% have bachelor’s degrees.
I would venture to guess, based on my observations, that we have a lot of good people in town. Holdenites give to others in need, volunteer their time, donate to good causes, and participate in town government. We pay our taxes, respect the flag, and respect the law.
With all the good our residents do, we might think that we don’t need God and certainly don’t need church to be good, moral people. It’s certainly true that God gave man a conscience. And we inherently know, usually, what’s good and bad, right and wrong.
But did you know that Biblical Christianity is not just about being a good, moral person? There’s something much more important than morality at stake. Of course morality is a fruit of Biblical Christianity but it’s not the primary emphasis. All religions except Biblical Christianity preach salvation by good works. Biblical Christianity preaches Salvation by the undeserved favor of God, otherwise known as grace.
The Biblical fact is that we won’t be going to heaven if we base our goodness on our works. We cannot earn God’s acceptance by trying to be good people.
I know this is hard for some of today’s populous people to swallow, but if we’re really serious about knowing what the future holds for us, we cannot rely on just whatever we think or whatever society deems politically correct at any given time. We have to know what the Bible says because the Bible is God’s Word, written through men God inspired to write down what He wants us to know. The Bible’s pages came from many different men over thousands of years all under the influence of God’s Spirit.
And what does the Bible say? The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom 3:10). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9).
So you see, that’s a lot different than thinking our good deeds will outweigh our bad deeds. The Bible says we’re all sinners and not only experience physical death, but eternal death – a death which separates us from God for all eternity. This is the default position of all of us because the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden have been passed down through all generations. Our good deeds won’t change that. What we need to understand and accept is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for sin which we could never pay. Justice requires penalty and our God is a just God.
The Bible says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Part of that “many” is you and me. “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). According to the Bible, there aren’t a lot of people in the world who will experience eternal life with God after death. The Bible says, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).
While it’s noble that so many folks do good things and make society better in some ways, morality is not the key. There are many false teachers out there who say God will accept you for being a good person. Where do they get that? It’s not in the Bible. Perhaps it’s just what seems right to them. The Bible speaks to that too. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Who would you rather trust? Your own ideas of what’s right and wrong? The words of men? Or the Word of God? If you’d like to know more of what God says about salvation, then visit our website,Calvary4u.net, and click the link called “How to Know God” at the top of the page. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).
You’re also welcome to join us for church Sunday mornings at 11 AM. We’re now meeting at the Holden Municipal Light Department, One Holden Street in Holden, MA and we’d love to have you visit. Our services are very traditional and orderly. We sing hymns, read the Bible together, pray to God, and hear a sermon based on God’s Word. The building is handicapped accessible and everyone is welcome. So please take this as a personal invitation to you. I appreciate you reading and keep everyone touched by our ministry in prayer. May God bless you now and through all eternity.
Pastor David S. Rogol
September 11, 2017
I would venture to guess, based on my observations, that we have a lot of good people in town. Holdenites give to others in need, volunteer their time, donate to good causes, and participate in town government. We pay our taxes, respect the flag, and respect the law.
With all the good our residents do, we might think that we don’t need God and certainly don’t need church to be good, moral people. It’s certainly true that God gave man a conscience. And we inherently know, usually, what’s good and bad, right and wrong.
But did you know that Biblical Christianity is not just about being a good, moral person? There’s something much more important than morality at stake. Of course morality is a fruit of Biblical Christianity but it’s not the primary emphasis. All religions except Biblical Christianity preach salvation by good works. Biblical Christianity preaches Salvation by the undeserved favor of God, otherwise known as grace.
The Biblical fact is that we won’t be going to heaven if we base our goodness on our works. We cannot earn God’s acceptance by trying to be good people.
I know this is hard for some of today’s populous people to swallow, but if we’re really serious about knowing what the future holds for us, we cannot rely on just whatever we think or whatever society deems politically correct at any given time. We have to know what the Bible says because the Bible is God’s Word, written through men God inspired to write down what He wants us to know. The Bible’s pages came from many different men over thousands of years all under the influence of God’s Spirit.
And what does the Bible say? The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom 3:10). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9).
So you see, that’s a lot different than thinking our good deeds will outweigh our bad deeds. The Bible says we’re all sinners and not only experience physical death, but eternal death – a death which separates us from God for all eternity. This is the default position of all of us because the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden have been passed down through all generations. Our good deeds won’t change that. What we need to understand and accept is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for sin which we could never pay. Justice requires penalty and our God is a just God.
The Bible says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Part of that “many” is you and me. “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). According to the Bible, there aren’t a lot of people in the world who will experience eternal life with God after death. The Bible says, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).
While it’s noble that so many folks do good things and make society better in some ways, morality is not the key. There are many false teachers out there who say God will accept you for being a good person. Where do they get that? It’s not in the Bible. Perhaps it’s just what seems right to them. The Bible speaks to that too. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Who would you rather trust? Your own ideas of what’s right and wrong? The words of men? Or the Word of God? If you’d like to know more of what God says about salvation, then visit our website,Calvary4u.net, and click the link called “How to Know God” at the top of the page. “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).
You’re also welcome to join us for church Sunday mornings at 11 AM. We’re now meeting at the Holden Municipal Light Department, One Holden Street in Holden, MA and we’d love to have you visit. Our services are very traditional and orderly. We sing hymns, read the Bible together, pray to God, and hear a sermon based on God’s Word. The building is handicapped accessible and everyone is welcome. So please take this as a personal invitation to you. I appreciate you reading and keep everyone touched by our ministry in prayer. May God bless you now and through all eternity.
Pastor David S. Rogol
September 11, 2017