Why is Alternative 2 a poor choice?

I rely on myself and I do not need salvation

Claiming that you don't need God because you consider yourself a ‘good person’ is a common view, but the Bible explains why this idea is problematic. Here are some reasons why this reasoning doesn't hold up according to Scripture:

1.

Man's own goodness is relative, not absolute

Man often compares his morality and goodness with other people, but God judges by an absolute standard. Romans 3:10-12 says:

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one".- Rom 3:10-12. (KJV)

The Bible teaches that no man can measure up to God's standard of holiness and righteousness. Our own attempts to be ‘good’ are like filthy rags before Him (Isa. 64:6). Therefore, no man can come into fellowship with God by his own works.

"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." - Isa. 64:6. (KJV).

2.

Goodness cannot pay for sin

Even if someone were to do many good deeds, they can never outweigh the guilt of sin before God. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and only the blood of Jesus can atone for sin. In Hebrews 9:22 it says:

“..and without shedding of blood is no remission.”  - Heb 9:22. (KJV)

Goodness cannot remove the consequences of sin. The only thing that can reconcile us to God is Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

3.

Relying on own goodness denies the need for salvation

When people claim they don't need God, they deny Jesus' work and make His sacrifice meaningless in their lives. Jesus said:

“..I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6 (KJV)

To reject God because you think you are good is to ignore the fact that Jesus came to save us from a sinful nature that we cannot overcome ourselves.

4.

Goodness without God misses the purpose of life

The Bible teaches that we are created to honour God and have fellowship with Him (Isa 43:7). If we try to live ‘good lives’ without God, we miss our highest purpose. In Ecclesiastes 12:13 it says:

“..Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” - Ecc 12:13. (KJV)

Goodness that does not flow from love of God and obedience to His will is empty, because it does not fulfil the purpose of creation.

5.

Human beings do not fully understand what true goodness is

Man may think he is good, but without God's wisdom and standard he is blind to what true righteousness means. Proverbs 16:2 says:

"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." - Pro 16:2. (KJV)

God looks at the motives of our hearts, and even the most ‘good’ deeds can be filled with pride, selfishness or other hidden sins. To believe that one does not need God because one is a ‘good person’ is based on a misunderstanding of both God's holiness and the human condition. None of us can live up to God's perfect standard or pay for our own sins. The ‘good person’ by human standards is still a sinner in need of God's grace. Therefore, no matter how ‘good’ we think we are, we all need to humble ourselves before God and receive salvation through Jesus Christ. As it says in Ephesians 2:8-9:

"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. (KJV)

Turn to God for reconciliation:

A reminder from the Bible

Man's greatest need is reconciliation with God. The Bible makes it clear that sin has created a gulf between us and our Creator, but it also proclaims the good news that God in his love has made a way back to himself through Jesus Christ. In this article, we explore why every human being needs to turn to God for reconciliation, and we draw our foundation from the Bible.

God is our Creator and Lord

The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them. As human beings, we are created in His image to honour and serve Him. Romans 1:20-23 says:

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." - Rom 1:20-23. (KJV)

Here we see that we are all called to honour God as Creator. When we choose not to do so, we despise His glory and fall into sin. This sin is the reason we are separated from God.

The consequences of sin and the need for reconciliation

The wages of sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Romans 6:23). This means that sin not only affects our lives here and now, but also our eternal destination. Sin makes us unworthy to stand before a holy God, because He is perfectly righteous and cannot tolerate sin. In Hebrews 11:6 we are reminded that it is impossible to please God without faith:

“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.” - Heb 11:6. (KJV)

Thus, to be reconciled with God, we must turn to Him in faith.

Christ's work on the cross: the path to reconciliation

God, in His infinite love, gave us a way to reconciliation through Jesus Christ. In Colossians 1:20 it says:

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” - Col. 1:20. (KJV)

Through Jesus' death and resurrection, He has borne the penalty of sin for us and opened a way for us to come back to God. This atonement is not something we can earn ourselves, but it is a free gift from God that we receive by faith (Eph. 2:8-9).

The call to turn and believe

The Bible calls us to repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said:

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” - Luk. 5:32. (KJV)

It means recognising our sin, leaving it behind and turning our hearts to God. This repentance leads us to the way of forgiveness of sins and new life which is through Jesus Christ.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." - 1Jo 1:8. (KJV)

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36. (KJV)

Man is created for communion with God, but sin has separated us from Him. Only through Jesus Christ can we be reconciled to God. Therefore, it is crucial for us to turn to God in faith, acknowledge our sin and receive the salvation He offers through the blood of Christ. As Paul says in Romans 1:16:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” - Rom 1:16. (KJV)

May this truth lead you to seek God with all your heart, for He alone can give you peace, forgiveness and eternal life.

"And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luk 24:46-47. (KJV)

God wants you to turn to him to find the way of reconciliation to God through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Repentance means turning from one state to another, e.g. from being an unbeliever to being a believer, or from believing in a false god to believing in the one true God. Repentance is NOT an eternal process in that you must first have completely stopped sinning to be saved (no one can completely stop sinning); but it does involve turning from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God, which also leads you to refrain from every form of behaviour, with the conviction that it has offended God Rev 26:15-18:

"And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.". - Acts 26:15-18. (KJV)

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The consequences of your choice

Your most important choice is about your soul

Eternal life or eternal punishment

The choice we face is crucial and has eternal consequences. Choosing Jesus as our atonement means eternal life, while trying to pay for our own sins only leads to eternal punishment. There is a clear dividing line; believing in Jesus gives us access to the Kingdom of God, while denying Jesus and his sacrifice leads to eternal loss.

Choose your payment method

Your payment or Jesus' payment

Are you sure you will go to heaven when you die?

There is an eternity with God for the saved and an eternity in hell for the lost. Choosing Jesus Christ's payment for your sins through faith in His blood is the most critical decision you will ever make. It determines your eternal future and defines your relationship with God. In this choice, there is no room for neutrality; you either choose to trust in Jesus' finished work on the cross or to rely on your own abilities, which is doomed to failure.

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." - 1Jo. 5:11-12. (KJV)

”For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. - 1Cor 1:18. (KJV)

God's judgement and hell

A Biblical reminder of eternity

The Bible clearly teaches that God is righteous and that He will one day judge the world. It also speaks of hell as a real and terrifying destination for those who reject God and do not repent. This is a topic often ignored in our day, but God's judgement and hell are central themes in Scripture.

1.

God's righteous judgement

God is holy and righteous, which means that He cannot ignore sin. Every person will stand before Him to give an account of their life. Hebrews 9:27 says:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” - Heb 9:27. (KJV)

Judgement is inevitable, and no one can escape it. Jesus himself emphasised that judgement will be fair and that all our deeds, even our words, will be judged:

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” - Mat 12:36-37. (KJV)

2.

Hell in the Bible

Hell is a real place where God's wrath and justice are fulfilled against sin. The word ‘hell’ is used 54 times in the King James Bible and refers to a place of eternal punishment and separation from God.

A place of eternal fire and suffering:

"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." - Mat 25:46. (KJV)

Jesus often spoke of hell as a place where ‘the fire never goes out’ and ‘the worm does not die’ (Mark 9:43-48).

A prison for the wicked:

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death..” - Rev 21:8. (KJV)

Ett tillstånd av evig separation från Gud:

“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” - 2 Th 1:9. (KJV)

3.

Why does hell exist

Hell is not a human invention, but a reality that the Bible describes clearly. Jesus himself explains its purpose in Matthew 25:41:

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" - Mat 25:41. (KJV)

This verse gives us an insight into why hell exists and who it was originally intended for. It is also clear from Scripture that it is not only for the devil and his fallen angels, but also for those who choose to reject God and His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 25:41 that hell was not originally created for humans, but for the devil (Satan) and his fallen angels. Satan rebelled against God and dragged some of the angels down with him (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:7-9). As a result of their rebellion, God prepared hell as a place for their eternal punishment. It is a place where God's justice against evil and sin is fulfilled. Although hell was originally prepared for the devil and his angels, it also becomes the final destination for people who choose to live in sin and reject God's offer of salvation. Revelation 20:15 says:

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Rev 20:15. (KJV)

The Book of Life contains the names of those who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour and had their sins forgiven. Those who are not written in this book have chosen to face God's judgement without the atoning blood of Jesus, and their punishment will be hell. This reminds us that hell is not only a place of punishment but also of separation from God. Those thrown into the lake of fire are not there because God wants them to be, but because they have chosen to reject His grace and salvation. Hell exists to demonstrate God's justice. God is perfectly holy and righteous, and He must judge sin. Sin cannot exist in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13). Hell is where the full consequences of sin are revealed. It is also a reminder that God takes sin very seriously.

In Revelation 20:10 we are told that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire and tormented day and night for ever and ever. This shows that hell is not just a temporary place of punishment, but an eternal existence for those who reject God. It is important to understand that God does not want anyone to go to hell. In 2 Peter 3:9 it says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance..” - 2 Pe 3:9. (KJV)

God has made every effort to save us from hell by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins (John 3:16). Hell only becomes a person's final destination if he or she chooses to reject this offer of salvation.

Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:15 teach us that:

• Hell is a place prepared for God's enemies: it was originally created for Satan and his angels, but it is also the punishment for those who choose sin and reject God.

• There is no neutral option: All people must choose between following God through Jesus Christ or remaining in sin and facing eternal separation from God.

• God offers salvation: Through faith in Jesus, we can escape hell and have our names written in the book of life. This is a gift that we cannot earn, but only receive by faith (Eph. 2:8-9).

According to Matthew 25:41, it was originally created for the devil and his fallen angels, but it also becomes the final destination for people who reject God's salvation. As Revelation 20:15 says, those who are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. But God does not want anyone to be lost. Through Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to escape this fate and gain eternal life. The choice is ours: to receive God's grace through faith in Christ or to face His justice without a Saviour. As the Bible reminds us:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” - Deu 30:19. (KJV)

4.

Jesus often warned of hell

Jesus himself spoke the most about hell in the whole Bible. He emphasised the importance of avoiding this place and urged people to repent of their sins. One example is the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31, where Jesus tells in detail about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man, who ends up in hell, is in torment and asks for his loved ones to be warned so that they don't end up there too.

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." - Luk 16:19-31. (KJV)

Jesus also warned that our life choices have eternal consequences:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” - Mat 7:13-14. (KJV)

5.

Can you escape judgement and hell?

Despite the dire warning of God's judgement and hell, the Bible offers hope. Through Jesus Christ, God has opened a way for us to be saved from that just judgement. Jesus died on the cross and took the punishment for our sins, so that you can receive forgiveness and eternal life. In John 3:16-18 it says:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”. - Joh 3:16-18 (KJV)

6.

What can you do?

The first step is to recognise that you are a sinner in need of God's mercy. You must repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Acts 3:19 says:

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”. Acts 3:19. (KJV)

When we believe in Jesus and receive His atoning work, we can escape judgement and hell. As Paul explains in Romans 8:1:

“THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Rom 8:1. (KJV)

The Bible is clear: God's judgement is real, and hell is a terrible place of eternal punishment for those who reject God. The word ‘hell’ is used 54 times in the King James Bible, showing how serious this subject is. But God, in His love and grace, has given us a way to salvation through Jesus Christ.

The most important question for every human being is: ‘Am I ready for judgement?’ The answer lies in humbling yourself before God, repenting of everything that hinders you from receiving Jesus' saving grace. Through Him, you can escape judgement and share in the joy of eternal life in God's presence.