“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5

Perhaps the most dangerous assumption a Christian could make is that he is doing “good enough.”

He looks around and sees his unbelieving neighbor and says, “Well, I’m obviously doing better than he is.”

He looks at other Christians in the world, sees their failures and thinks, “Well, at least I don’t commit those sins.”

He compares his efforts in church to those of his fellow church members and concludes, “I’m doing more than they are.”

His conclusion? “I’m doing good enough to go to heaven. I don’t need to change anything in my life.”

Well, the entrance to heaven is not by our “good enough” efforts. It is by the blood of Christ and His imputed righteousness that anyone will be in heaven. So, we need to stop thinking of good works and repentance with that in mind.

Repentance, belief, and good works should be our thankful response to the grace of God. These actions are also the key to joyfully dwelling in the Kingdom of God while we are still here in time.

This scripture, as we have already seen, does not teach us to fear eternal damnation for impenitence. However, it does teach us that arrogant impenitence DOES have consequences for the child of God here in time.