When I was on vacation last week, I met a man who was also on vacation with his family. They live in Kyiv, Ukraine. He discussed a few of the hardships that come along with living there and the hopelessness a people feel concerning their war against Russia. War is a horrible thing. And working to bring peace is a good thing.
The President has been working to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. And I applaud that greatly. Estimates vary greatly, but up to 1.5 million people have already died. And who knows how many more will die if this war drags on. It is brutal.
Donald J. Trump understands that ending the war is a good thing. And he also understands that getting these two parties into negotiations is a good thing. And he views what he is doing in this as good work. And, as far as I can tell, it is.
USA Today reported Trump as saying,
“I wanna end it. You know, we’re not losing American lives … we’re losing Russian and Ukrainian mostly soldiers,” Trump said. “I wanna try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”
This gives us the President’s underlying view of how one gets to Heaven. And it is by doing good. He sounds concerned about his soul and hopes that doing good things like ending bloody wars will get him into Heaven. And that brings me sorrow.
I am glad that it concerns him. I am sad that he thinks he can earn it. And when I read this, I believed it to be a concern that many people have.
The Roman Catholic Response: Do More Good Works And Earn Heaven
The article below is an online piece written by Jesuit Priest James Martin, S.J. The Jesuits are a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola. In this article, Martin responds to Trump’s comments by telling him to do more good works if he wants to go to Heaven. If you don’t believe me, then read the article.
The Roman Catholic system is a mixture of grace and works. Therefore, in this priest’s opinion, Trump’s pathway to heaven is about doing more good works. According to him, Trump can earn the right to be called a child of God by feeding the hungry and helping the poor.
That’s not what the Scripture’s tell us. But it is what he believes. And it is what a lot of people believe.
What Is The Truth
It is not through working that we are found in God’s family. It is through faith in Him.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13 ESV
It is not by works that we are redeemed. It is by grace through faith.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
Christ came to us. God the Son took on human flesh to save us. He appeared to give us eternal life. We are saved by His work, not our own. We are “justified” or declared righteous based upon Christ’s finished work.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:4-7 ESV
The real message to Trump should be that he must cast himself upon the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is good for a person to fear Hell, it is what leads them to Christ.
God the Son took on human flesh to accomplish this salvation for us. You can’t escape Hell on your own. You need Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life and accomplished righteousness. Jesus died on the cross and paid the punishment for sin. And Jesus rose from the grave and accomplished our justification. You can’t save yourself. But Jesus can save you
I hope that Trump years the gospel. But I also hope that you do as well.
Watch Voddie Baucham explain the gospel. And turn to Him.
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