No — God should not let anyone into heaven based on their own goodness, because everyone has sinned and fallen short of His glory.
Romans 3:23 makes it plain that all have sinned and come short of God's glory, so personal goodness cannot be the reason God lets anyone into heaven. Les Feldick teaches that the first step of faith is agreeing with that verdict, and the only thing a believer can claim is what God has done — justification freely by His grace through Christ.
Romans 3:23 — This verse is the foundation of the answer: every person has sinned and falls short of God's glory, so no one can claim to be worthy of heaven.
In Romans 3:23, Scripture declares that every human being has sinned and come short of the glory of God. This means no one meets God's standard on the basis of personal goodness. Romans 3:24 then reveals God's answer: believers are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus also spoke of those who have done good coming to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation (John 5:29), and Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God.
Les Feldick approaches this question by asking, "On what basis do you think God should let you into his heaven?" He notes that people give many human answers — being good, keeping the commandments, joining the church, being a good parent, or being a good citizen — but these are all things that "seemeth right unto a man" and end in death. Les teaches that nothing we do can get us into heaven. The only ground a believer can claim is what God has done. The first step of faith is agreeing with Romans 3:23 that we are sinners and sons of Adam. Then Romans 3:24 shows God has declared we can be justified freely, with no strings attached. Faith is the door of access to God's grace, and by faith everything God did at salvation becomes real to us. Les also stresses that the only good that pleases God is the good of faith; without faith it is impossible to please God.
When Les asks people why God should let them into heaven, he says you will get as many different answers as you have people to ask. Some say, "I'm doing the best I can," "I'm keeping the commandments," "I've joined the church," "I'm a good parent," or "I'm a good citizen." Les warns that these are all things that seem right to a man, but the end of that path is death.
The starting point for salvation, according to Les, is Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." He calls this the first step of faith. The Holy Spirit convinces us that we are sinners and that we are not as good as we think we are. Once a person accepts what God says about them, God has declared they can be justified freely, with no strings attached.
God's grace is accessible to every human being, but there has to be a door of access — faith. Les teaches that when we believe, God sanctifies, forgives, justifies, and glorifies us, and we know it happened because the Book says so. Faith means taking God at His Word, and without faith it is impossible to please God.
How Can You Know You're Saved? The Plan of Salvation in Scripture
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Resting on What God Has Done
Les teaches that believers can only claim what God has done, not their own works, and that the first step of faith is admitting we are sinners who have fallen short and are sons of Adam.
Wrong Human Answers
Les shows that if you ask people why God should let them into heaven, you get wrong answers like being good, keeping the commandments, joining the church, or being a good citizen — all roads that end in death.
Faith as the Door of Access
Les explains that God's grace has opened heaven to everyone, but faith is the door of access, and everything God did at salvation becomes real to us by faith.
First Step of Faith
Les uses Romans 3:23 as the first step of faith on the road to salvation: we must realize we are sinners, because many good people will be lost if they think they are good enough.
Good Defined by Faith
Les teaches that good works in God's eyes are works done by faith, since without faith it is impossible to please God.
Separated from God
Les compares resting on Christ to Israel resting on the blood of the Passover lamb, because every human being has fallen short and cannot meet God's standard.
The Holy Spirit's Work
Les says the Holy Spirit's first work is to convince us we are sinners; Romans 3:23 is God's assessment of us — we are not as good as we think we are.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This verse is the foundation of the answer — it shows why no one can claim to be good enough on their own.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This verse shows the divine alternative: sinners can be justified freely through God's grace.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This verse shows that pleasing God is impossible apart from faith.
John 5:29: And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
This verse is often seen as rewarding good works, but the good that leads to life is the good of faith.
Les Feldick says that being good, keeping the commandments, and being a good citizen are common answers people give, but these are not the basis for entrance into heaven. Romans 3:23 says everyone has sinned and come short of God's glory. Faith in what God has done, not personal goodness, is what pleases God.
It means every human being, by their natural state, falls short of God's standard and cannot meet it. Les teaches that this is the first thing the Holy Spirit makes us aware of — that we are sinners and not as good as we think we are.
Les teaches that you rest on the fact that God has justified you freely by His grace through Christ. Faith is taking God at His Word. The Book says so, and that is the basis for assurance.
Watch the Teaching: How Can You Know You're Saved? The Plan of Salvation in Scripture