Saved by Grace, Not by Works

A local radio personality, passed away over the weekend. In the midst of all of the facebook posts there was one that really stuck out to me - it said that he must be in heaven, since he founded a foundation to give trips to special and medical needs children & their families.
Granted it is a very nice thing to do, and extremely humbling for so many. It is important to reach out and to help others.
However, just because you do good works, does not mean that you will go to heaven. You can do good things for your whole life, it does not mean that you will get into heaven. 
 Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.


In order to get into heaven you have to have your faith in Jesus Christ.  

Just because someone goes to church, sing songs, and does good deeds does not mean that they are truly a Christian and will get into heaven....

Just as if I go to a golf course, take some swings of a golf club, and maybe even make the golf ball go into a hole, does not mean that I'm a golfer. 

you have to truly believe with your heart that Jesus died to be your savior, confess it with your mouth. Then you'll be saved.

Romans 10:9

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

God has instructed us to do good things, and be a faithful servant. we are directed to serve others, however just by serving others does not merely get you into heaven, it takes just a little more than that- to believe and declare with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and truly and deeply believe in  your heart that God raised him from the dead.

not just say it, but believe it with your whole heart.

It does sadden me to see some people to do so much good and help others and such, but you know that deep down (or not so deep) they are only doing good so that they can be recognized (when they are not to be boastful about the good deeds) or they are doing it because they think that "oh, God would like this, and this will help me be on his side..... and I'll get into heaven, even though I don't completely believe that He died for my sins..."
It is sad to see.
We must recognize it though, and God told us how we can get into heaven - we just have to do it, and believe it. ..........
SO i must ask you,
Do you fully believe? or are you just putting on a mask for others (or even yourself) to think that you are a Christian?