by Perry Hall<\/p>\n
Ever hear someone say, “I hope I did enough to go to heaven?” Or have you heard preached, “That church isn’t ‘sound’ so anyone baptized there is still lost”? Those are dangerous thoughts.<\/p>\n
If we have to be perfect in all areas to get to heaven, then we only need grace until we become perfect. Therefore, we entered heaven because we had made ourselves perfect and no longer needed God’s grace. That is a dangerous thought.<\/p>\n
When I make it to heaven, it will be because I still need God’s grace, not because I used to.<\/p>\n
This doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be concerned that certain imperfections could cause me to fail. They can (I Corinthians 5, 15).<\/p>\n
What it does mean is if personal perfection in all things is needed, then no one is saved until they have finished growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). That is a dangerous thought.<\/p>\n
God declares us perfect by faith, even though we aren’t personally perfect. That is a biblically comforting thought.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Perry Hall Ever hear someone say, “I hope I did enough to go to heaven?” Or have you heard preached, “That church isn’t ‘sound’ so anyone baptized there is still lost”? Those are dangerous thoughts. If we have to be perfect in all areas to get to heaven, then we only need grace until…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[56,47,55],"class_list":["post-93768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-perfection","tag-salvation","tag-works"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35110,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/as-though-he-needed-anything\/","url_meta":{"origin":93768,"position":0},"title":"As Though He Needed Anything (Article)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer \"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":85031,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/grace-and-repentance\/","url_meta":{"origin":93768,"position":1},"title":"Grace and Repentance","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer We are saved by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5). Salvation is not of ourselves but is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-10). That teaching should be front and center for us. Grace also has a context that should never be ignored. We don't have the authority\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":86754,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-origin-of-the-devil\/","url_meta":{"origin":93768,"position":2},"title":"The Origin of the Devil","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Cleve Stafford A few days ago, someone asked me if I knew where the devil came from. I told her the easy answer is \"From heaven,\" but he is no longer there because of his disobedience. Of course, it is that simple, yet at the same time, it is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":85752,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-have-a-fear-that-i-was-baptized-incorrectly\/","url_meta":{"origin":93768,"position":3},"title":"I have a fear that I was baptized incorrectly","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi there, I know you've probably answered many questions like mine, but I'm just struggling with a lack of peace. I ache for peace, and I am praying for help. I doubt my baptism, and I just wanted to seek guidance. I do struggle with moral OCD, and I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62066,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/grace-is-sufficient\/","url_meta":{"origin":93768,"position":4},"title":"Grace Is Sufficient","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Paul describes certain visions and revelations that were beyond his understanding (II Corinthians 12). He then spoke of what he calls a \"thorn in the flesh,\" given to him to keep him from becoming conceited. He implored the Lord three times that this thorn would be removed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2198,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-i-have-days-where-i-dont-read-or-pray-as-much-as-i-usually-do-does-that-mean-i-wont-reach-heaven\/","url_meta":{"origin":93768,"position":5},"title":"When I have days where I don’t read or pray as much as I usually do, does that mean I won’t reach heaven?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hey Mr. Jeffrey, I have resolved to walk in all of God's ways, and I've been faithfully doing as best as I can. 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