It’s Not Just About Your Actions

March 2, 2025

Have you ever noticed or thought about the many atrocities committed through the years in the name of religion? These include a bunch committed by “Christians.” It seems like a person can justify just about anything in his or her mind if he or she is convinced God told him or her to do it. Akin to this notion is another false concept that most people have when it comes to salvation. When you get down to brass tacks, most folks believe their ticket to heaven is punched by their actions. Jesus talks about this in Luke 18:9-23. Notice a few things in this paragraph. First, in verses 9-12, the Pharisee thought he was saved because of his actions, but he was wrong. He wasn’t wrong about his actions. He didn’t do a lot of bad stuff, and he did fast and tithe. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day are like many Christians of our day. They do the right things and say the right things, but they miss the kingdom, because kingdom entrance isn’t accomplished by doing stuff and avoiding stuff. Second, in verse 13 the tax collector thought he wasn’t saved, because he had done a lot of bad things, but he too, was wrong. Despite what the tax collector thought about himself, Jesus says in verse 14 the tax collector went home saved (justified). Many people today make the same mistake the tax collector made. They think because of all the bad stuff they have done in their lives they are too wicked to be saved. But what if our salvation doesn’t depend on our actions? More about that in a minute. Third, in verses 18-23, the Rich Young Ruler thought he wanted to be saved, but he too, was wrong. As it turns out, the young man was asking the wrong question. He asked, “What must I DO the INHERIT eternal life?” When Jesus questioned the man about his loyalty to his stuff, we discover the man was more interested in keeping his stuff than he was about entering the kingdom of heaven. Finally, in verses 15-17 we see a group of infants. These infants didn’t think anything and they didn’t do anything...and they got it right! They were content to simply rest in the arms of Jesus, and that was enough. This paragraph teaches us our actions don’t determine our salvation. You can’t do enough good stuff to enter the kingdom of heaven because the entrance requirement is perfection and when it comes to a picture of perfection, we ain’t it! You can’t be good enough to go to heaven based on your actions. No one is good enough to be saved. On the other hand, no one is bad enough to be denied entrance to heaven either. God’s word tells us trusting in the finished work of Jesus is the only way to enter the kingdom. It’s not about what we do and don’t do, it’s about what Jesus did. Quit running from God. Turn to God through faith in what Jesus did on the cross. When Jesus said, “it is finished,” He meant it is finished for you too! Your salvation has been paid for, Then, be like the infants in our text. Just, rest in the arms of Jesus, because Jesus is enough.

Be blessed and go be a blessing . . . Bro. Andy