It is contended by some that "good moral people" will enter the gates of heaven regardless of their relationship with God or Christ. While it is true that God wants all people to be saved and not perish (2 Peter 3:9; I Tim. 2:4), there is no Biblical basis to the notion that all one must do to obtain an eternal resting place in heaven is just be a good, moral person. In fact such a notion flies in the face of the teachings of God's word.

Friends, the Bible makes it clear that so much more is required of us than just good morals if we wish to enter heaven. We have all sinned against God. In God's eyes, "there is none righteous, no, not one" and "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:10,23). The Bible teaches that no responsible person is "good enough" to go to heaven--man cannot be saved by his own "goodness." To one day enter heaven, man must be saved from his sins; it is by the goodness of Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:15; Rom. 3:24-26) that man is redeemed.

The fallacy of the "all good moral people go to heaven" thinking is uncovered when one considers the following five points:

1. If all that was required for a person to enter heaven was "good morals", then a person could be saved without Christ having to come into the world. However, John 3:17 says: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved ." The Heavenly Father sent Christ to this earth so that man might be saved. If "good morals" was all that was needed for man to be saved, why was Christ sent to this earth?

2. If all that was required for a person to enter heaven was "good morals", then a person could be saved without the death of Christ. Yet I Corinthians 15:3 says: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" . Christ died for man's sins. If "good morals" was all that was needed for man to be saved, why did Christ have to die upon the cross?

3. If all that was required for a person to enter heaven was "good morals", then a person could please God without faith. But Hebrews 11:6 tells us: " But without faith it is impossible to please Him , for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Without faith it is impossible for man to please God. If "good morals" was all that was needed for man to be saved, why would faith be necessary to please God?

4. If all that was required for a person to enter heaven was "good morals", then a person could be saved without being baptized. However this is contrary to I Peter 3:20,21 which says: "who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (The notion that one could be saved without being baptized also contradicts Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16 and other passages). Baptism is an essential condition to which man must submit in order to obtain the gift of salvation. If "good morals" was all that was needed for man to be saved, why is so much recorded regarding the necessity of baptism?

5. If all that was required for a person to enter heaven was "good morals", then a person could be saved without obeying the gospel. But we read in II Thessalonians 1:8,9: "in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." Christ will take vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel. If "good morals" was all that was needed for man to be saved, then why exact vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel?

Many in the world believe that good morals and clean living are all that is required for man to secure a home in heaven. Sadly, some Christians have begun to believe this in their dealings with those outside of Christ. Despite their knowledge of God's word, they find themselves not believing that a "good person" they know can go to hell. The plain truth we should all remember is that morals alone may keep us out of jail, but morals alone will not keep us out of hell! For people to believe otherwise--especially in light of plain Biblical teaching--is to "turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (II Tim. 4:4).