I remember when I first watched the Patrick Swayze movie, GHOST, I loved it. It was the first video that I purchased on VHS. Patrick Swayze’s character, Sam Wheat is murdered, but the movie emphasises that he was a ‘good’ person so therefore went to heaven. At the end of the movie, the murderers, obviously the ‘baddies’ get their comeuppance and they go to a place of torment.
This idea of salvation in the movie GHOST is entirely wrong, because we are not saved by human merit. Salvation is a gift of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation is entirely of God, through the work of Jesus Christ, the sinless lamb of God.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world – John 1:29
This is typical Hollywood spreading lies, because the father of Hollywood is the devil, there to cause confusion amongst the masses. Sadly, more people trust the devil’s ways, than Almighty God.
Another thing the world teaches from a very young age, even in Christianity too, is that if we are pretty decent people, we will get into heaven.
Not according to God’s Word.
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; – Romans 3:23
Our works (righteousnesses) are as filthy rags before a Holy God.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. – Isaiah 64:6
Jesus offended the ‘righteous’ upon His time on earth in telling the pharisees, the saducces and the scribes that trusting in their works would not bring everlasting life. Who would pay for their sin, because animal sacrifices could never pay for sin.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins – Hebrews 10:4
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; – Hebrews 10:11-12
The good news is that Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, was born of a Virgin and lived a sinless life, became sin for us and died on the cross, was buried and resurrected to pay for the penalty of sin for everybody. What we need to do is to accept this payment as the gift that it is, and when we trust on Jesus Christ as Saviour, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who cannot sin. Our old nature remains, but we have a new nature that cannot sin.
We either accept that Jesus Christ paid for our sin, or we can believe the lie that we can actually pay for sin through our good works, but it will not be enough before God. It is an insult to God to reject the sacrifice of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:23
Did you notice what it says in this passage after the bad news. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Jesus did that perfect work that God required. The will of God is that we believe in Jesus Christ.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day – John 6:40
Seeth is the greek word, 2334 theoreo, which is defined: (1) to view mentally, or consider, and (2) to see.
I know that the media portrays a lot of ‘evil’ people out there, but everyone needs a saviour in Christ, and Jesus’ sacrifice extends to everyone alive today and not yet born. We just need to trust in Him to receive remission of sins through His shed blood. Don’t be deceived by Hollywood movies like GHOST that teach good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell.
Biblical salvation is entirely grace through faith in Christ Jesus, not of human works – not before salvation or after. The work is entirely of Christ’s obedience unto His Father.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous – Romans 5:19
Discipleship or serving God comes after salvation, as Paul in his epistles is constantly exhorting the brethren to walk in the spirit. Serving God through good works is an entirely different doctrine than salvation. Most churches and teachers load discipleship with salvation creating a works salvation, which is an accursed gospel because it takes the glory off of Christ and the human being is then always looking at self for evidence of ‘works’.
Jesus is the rest that our souls desire. Salvation is through Him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls – Matthew 11:28-29
