How many times have I thought that? How many things are wrong with it?
First the hope. Hope is for things not seen. Alright it is correct that I haven’t seen heaven.
Hope in this sentence is more of a wish than a believing that Jesus will and already has gotten me to heaven. Not even after death but He has gotten me into His kingdom now.
Anyway the hope is a wish not a real hope. I hope my wife loves me. I know that she does. I believe her. I hope our love will last forever and i know it will. This has gotten easier because we have been married 30 years but I still wonder sometimes and that is anti-hope.
Secondly, I can’t do anything to earn His kingdom. All my good acts of kindness and ministries and trying to act right are worth nothing. Why? Because, He is so much more good that my tiny things which aren’t worth anything especially when or if He did not ask me to do them. Even if He did, I can not earn eternal life.
I believe Jesus died for me and that He loves me completely and wholelly right now. This is a better statement but a harder one to believe.
‘Father, help me believe with all of me (my whole being) the love that you have for your self/Son that you extend to me moment by moment of every day.’
I Don’t wish I could do enough. I know He already has done it all.
His freedom and forgiveness is priceless. Thinking I could buy it with all I have or with all the world is proud and I’m sick of thinking that way.
Later addition: I found this video and thought it was appropriate:
Scott's Blog 
You’re absolutely right. There is nothing you can do to make it to heaven. I accepted Jesus Christ he has already paved the way for you to be there. However your actions and your words can make a difference to other people here on this Earth. So it’s important to, as an old chorus said, work till Jesus comes
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thanks Pete. I liked your last psalm. You are awesome.
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Thanks Scott! Married 30 years – that’s great! Wishing you many more happy years to come.
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Thank you.
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Thanks Scott. One “hope” is more of a wish, while the “hope” that is within us is an assurance, a confidence in Christ and what he has done for us on the cross. Thanks for the post and great reminder.
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You are right. thanks for the comment
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Hi Scott, performance based approval is a hard mind set to get rid of because how we are taught this principle in so many things that we do. But in John 6:28-29 God’s Word says “Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus replied, “This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent.” You’re absolutely right, Jesus has already done it all, because we never could do it all. Loved your post. Blessings!
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Thank you very much.
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Good post, Scott. I would really like your thoughts on this though, as I do “like the way you think.”
Okay, if all it takes is our faith in Christ then why is it that God is going to judge our deeds to determine our salvation? I can quote many quotes out of the OT for this but I will stay with the NT.
The one I am going to use is Mt. 16:27 “For the Son of Man is to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man for what he has done.”
Also when He separates the sheep from the goats He said, “It is going to be according to our works.” Mt. 25:31-46
Right here, Jesus says nothing about our “faith” being the determining factor at the final judgement.
Of course James says, “Faith without works is dead.”
So given these three Scritpures alone, (as I said there are many others) to me, we cannot discount our works, as having no value when it comes to our judgement at the end. For me, I believe our faith and works have to go hand in hand. Just a thought and would love to hear what you think. Good post and God Bless, SR
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A relationship with Jesus ‘makes’ me do good deeds. It is impossible to ‘good’ without knowing what good is.
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I understand what you are saying there, if I am reading it correctly that our “knowing Christ is going to make us do good, automatically?”
But still and I guess my question is, do our works have no value at all when it comes to the final judgement given on the Scriptures I gave. Just kind of thinking this through. Thanks for your help. God Bless, SR
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I think they are ultimately the same question. I can’t love you without Jesus loving me. And the more I receive His love the more I want to and do serve Him.
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Gotcha! Thanks for placing another perspective on it for me. God Bless, SR
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@SR
Our works do have value before God. As you rightly stated, each one will be judged according to His works.
For the follower of Christ, the case is quite not the typical one. This is because it should be Christ Jesus Himself that should live through us, not us living by our fleshly cravings.
Lord Jesus living in you is as good as the Judge Himself doing what is right through you. In that case, you will always be on point with the Judge’s demand and you are justified, not by “your works” but by the grace of Jesus who is living through you (the works are actually seen to be yours, but deep down, you know that they belong to Lord Jesus).
“…although I live, it is not really me living but Christ lives in me…”
More of Lord Jesus to you.
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Thanks for the clarification.
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Its a privilege Dear Brother. Thanks for your feedback. It a good deal of kindness.
I rejoice with you on your being married for 30 years. Praise be to the Lord Dear Sir.
More of Lord Jesus to you.
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Yeppers, we can’t earn it, we can’t buy it, and we don’t deserve it. Jesus did it all and it’s by grace alone that we are saved!!! 🙂 ❤
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Thank you for this great comment. I appreciate you.
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Thank you Scott😊❤️
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As Nataliescarberry said – we can’t earn it, we can’t buy it, and we don’t deserve it. Jesus did it all and it’s by grace alone that we are saved! That in itself is the key and like everyone on this post has said – Love God and put all of your trust and faith in Him and the rest will follow. Good job!!!
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Amen and amen‼️😊❤️
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E. Luminous,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question and explaining your take on it. God Bless, SR
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Good encouragement. We know we can’t work our way, but we all still have those checklists to make God just a little happier with us, don’t we?
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Sure do. I think you got what I was saying. Thanks for making my day.
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The finished work of Christ!!!
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