Isn’t Being a Good Person Enough?

Welcome to Part 4 of my 10-part blog series What Is Salvation? You have questions about salvation; the Bible has the answers.

Isn’t being a good person enough? (Or: “Surely God knows my heart, right?”)

It’s one of the most common things people say when the topic of salvation comes up:

“I think I’ll be okay. I try to be a good person.”

And listen, that’s admirable! The world could use more kindness, honesty, and people who actually return shopping carts. But here’s the truth bomb that Scripture drops:

Being “good” isn’t good enough.

Wait… what? Why not? Let’s break it down.

🧮 How Good Is Good Enough?

Think about this: If being “good” was enough to get to Heaven, how good would you have to be?

• 75% good?
• 90% good?
• 99.999% good?

The Bible says God doesn’t grade on a curve. He measures us against His standard of perfect righteousness, not by our own standards nor by the “perfect” neighbor next door.

“There is none righteous, no, not one.” – Romans 3:10 (KJV)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23 (KJV)

Even our best falls short.

💔 God Does Know Your Heart… and That’s the Problem

We often comfort ourselves by saying, “God knows my heart.”

He does. And here’s what the Bible says about it:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” – Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

Ouch.

We might think we’re doing pretty well, but sin is more than skin deep; it’s baked into our very nature. Even our good deeds, so often done for selfish reasons, pride, or public image, are flawed in God’s eyes.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” – Isaiah 64:6a (KJV)

That means even our “best behavior” can’t clean up the stain of sin.

⚖️ Why Our Good Works Don’t Cancel Out Sin

Let’s say you’re in court for stealing $1,000. You tell the judge, “But look at all the times I didn’t steal! I also donated to charity and helped my neighbor move a couch!”

The judge may nod… and then say, “That’s nice, but you still broke the law.”

God is a righteous Judge. He doesn’t ignore sin because we also did some good things. Sin must be paid for. And we can’t pay it off with moral effort or church attendance.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” – Titus 3:5a (KJV)

✝️ Only One Was Truly Good

There’s only one Person who ever lived a perfectly sinless life, and that’s Jesus.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

He took our place, bore our sin, and offers His righteousness to anyone who believes.

You don’t get to Heaven by being “good enough.” You get to Heaven by trusting the only One who was good enough on your behalf.

🚫 Being Good Isn’t Bad, It’s Just Not the Savior

Let’s be clear: We’re not saying you shouldn’t try to live a moral life. Obviously, you should. Being good is… well, good.

But morality without salvation is like polishing a car with no engine: You might look shiny on the outside, but you’re not going anywhere.

Good works are a result of salvation, not the cause.

🗣️ Let’s Recap in One Sentence

Being a good person isn’t enough to save you; only Jesus can do that because only He was good enough to pay for your sin.

🙌 The Grace You Can’t Earn

The truth might sting at first, but it’s actually the best news ever: You don’t have to earn your way to God. You simply need to receive the gift He already provided through Jesus.

“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.” – Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)

“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.” – John 3:16 (KJV)

✨ Next Time

“Who Is Jesus, and Why Did He Die for Me?”
Next time, we’ll take a clear and compelling look at who Jesus really is and why He’s the only way.