Question 384: Can An Honest, Moral, Upright Life Save Anyone?

Answer:

People are constantly being misled in this matter because they fail to understand what salvation really is. Salvation is personal friendship and companionship with YHVH. It is hard to see how a man who is not a friend of YHVH at death will become one immediately after death. Being honest and upright does not really get us acquainted with YHVH. Paul was intensely moral before his conversion, but he found out later that he had been an enemy of YHVH all the time. Then too, salvation means humility and meekness. The man who believes he can save himself puts himself out of the Kingdom of Heaven by that very attitude of mind. For the Kingdom of Heaven is made up of people with childlike hearts, who have given up their pride and self-will. Nor will the mere naming of the Name of Moshiach and making a public confession make the necessary change. Yeshua said very distinctly: "Ye must be born again." It is extremely unwise and unsafe to quarrel or argue with Yeshua. He knows all about the human heart and all about the Kingdom of Heaven. The only thing to do is to accept His plan of salvation and let Him give us the new heart, the heart that is humble and obedient, that is not self-confident but trustful, the heart that loves YHVH and so will feel at home in YHVH's heaven. Scripture and experience alike teach that it is possible for one to have all the outward marks of religion, yet fail of possessing the real and vital thing. Saul of Tarsus was a most zealous man, trying to do the will of YHVH, but after his conversion he felt that his former life had been very sinful, because he had not submitted himself to the will of YHVH and accepted Moshiach's righteousness as his own. John Wesley's experience was similar and countless others of this and earlier days. It must be remembered that it is not outward conduct that makes the real believer; it is the inner life, the humility, the glad surrender to YHVH's will, the warm love felt for YHVH and for the souls for whom Moshiach died. It is not our good works that save us, but a simple, self-forgetful trust in Yeshua. This faith brings the life and love which constitute religion. A simple trust in the death of Yeshua as the remedy for our sin. A simple acceptance of Moshiach to be our righteousness and our salvation will bring the joy and power of a new life of real son-ship of YHVH and fellowship with Moshiach. See Romans 10:1-4; Philippians 3:3-9.