The Bible tells us that the righteous will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. But only God can judge who is righteous. And it is the righteous who believe in God.
Romans 4:3 says, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” All good things are because of God, and anything that one who may be judged by Him to be righteous, who sees things they consider to be good, are things of a consequence of God’s Goodness. Romans 8:28 says that with God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Now, what if we encounter someone who does good things, but who says they don’t believe in God? What are we to think, if anything? If all good things are because of God, wouldn’t it be a contradiction to say that one is a good person, but they don’t believe in Him? But an understanding of Romans 8:28 involves an acceptance that God will use anyone according to His purpose, even those who don’t believe in him.
We see in the news, of bad guys killing other bad guys. God may have considered, for we don’t know for sure, that those other bad guys are more of a threat to good people that the bad guys that killed them. Did not the non-believing Russians in World War Two kill the non-believing Germans who were a bigger threat to the good people in the world than the Russians were? Would God judge those Russians to be good, who don’t believe in Him? Perhaps not, even though what they did would otherwise be considered an act of righteousness. Would those non-believing Russians dwell in the House of the Lord? The Bible tells us they won’t, because they do not believe in God.
John 3:16 tells us that whoever believes in God will be saved. Jesus had directed his disciples to spread the Word, that those who learn of God’s existence and who come to believe in Him will be saved, so that there is no one left who doesn’t believe in Him.
And it is through Jesus that we may come to believe in God in a righteous manner. Jesus said that nobody comes to God except through Him. This is a blowback against the scribes and Pharisees of his day, who allowed gambling in the Temple of God on the Sabbath. These were the same scribes and Pharisees who condemned Jesus for performing miracles on the Sabbath? But what better way is there for one to do godly acts on a day that God has set aside for us? What better way to acknowledge him than to do acts of righteousness on that day? Is it not good to heal the sick and the handicapped?
In all things, the righteous are called to God before (instead of?) anyone else.
Romans 4:3 says, “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” All good things are because of God, and anything that one who may be judged by Him to be righteous, who sees things they consider to be good, are things of a consequence of God’s Goodness. Romans 8:28 says that with God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Now, what if we encounter someone who does good things, but who says they don’t believe in God? What are we to think, if anything? If all good things are because of God, wouldn’t it be a contradiction to say that one is a good person, but they don’t believe in Him? But an understanding of Romans 8:28 involves an acceptance that God will use anyone according to His purpose, even those who don’t believe in him.
We see in the news, of bad guys killing other bad guys. God may have considered, for we don’t know for sure, that those other bad guys are more of a threat to good people that the bad guys that killed them. Did not the non-believing Russians in World War Two kill the non-believing Germans who were a bigger threat to the good people in the world than the Russians were? Would God judge those Russians to be good, who don’t believe in Him? Perhaps not, even though what they did would otherwise be considered an act of righteousness. Would those non-believing Russians dwell in the House of the Lord? The Bible tells us they won’t, because they do not believe in God.
John 3:16 tells us that whoever believes in God will be saved. Jesus had directed his disciples to spread the Word, that those who learn of God’s existence and who come to believe in Him will be saved, so that there is no one left who doesn’t believe in Him.
And it is through Jesus that we may come to believe in God in a righteous manner. Jesus said that nobody comes to God except through Him. This is a blowback against the scribes and Pharisees of his day, who allowed gambling in the Temple of God on the Sabbath. These were the same scribes and Pharisees who condemned Jesus for performing miracles on the Sabbath? But what better way is there for one to do godly acts on a day that God has set aside for us? What better way to acknowledge him than to do acts of righteousness on that day? Is it not good to heal the sick and the handicapped?
In all things, the righteous are called to God before (instead of?) anyone else.
