Almost everyone thinks they are a good person. But the question you should be asking yourself is “Am I good enough to go to heaven?”
Here we want to explore the question, “Am I really a sinner?”

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?

The best way is to ask yourself have you followed the 10 commandments. Most people say “I have broken a couple but not the serious ones like murder”

So let’s look at them and see how you do. As you read down the list, make a mental note of which ones you’ve kept and which ones you have broken.

1. “You shall have no other gods before me”
Where does God come in your life? Does he always come first? Jesus said that we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength… HAVE YOU EVER FAILED TO PUT HIM FIRST?

2. “You shall not make for yourself any idol”
God is to have the highest priority in our lives. When we make something else number one on our list we set it up as an idol and worship (give our devotion and adoration) the idol rather than God. HAVE YOU EVER PUT ANYTHING ELSE IN PLACE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE?

3. “Your shall not take the name of God in vain”
How many times have you used God’s name as a curse word?
This precious name of God who created the earth and everything in it, your family, friends etc and you use his name as a word to express your anger or contempt. Hitler with all his atrocities wasn’t even hated enough to have his name used in this way. If you have used God’s name in this way you are a blasphemer and the Bible clearly says “God will not hold him guiltless who takes the name of the Lord in vain.” HAVE YOU EVER USED GOD’S NAME INAPPROPRIATELY?

4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”
God commands that we set aside one day in seven as a day of rest and devotion to him. HAVE YOU EVER FAILED TO KEEP ONE DAY IN THE WEEK ‘HOLY’?

5. “Honour your father and mother”
It pleases God when we honour our parents, HAVE YOU ALWAYS HONOURED YOUR PARENTS IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD?
Remember back to your youth – you may have forgotten but God hasn’t.

6. “You shall not murder”
Jesus warns “whoever is angry with his brother, is in danger of judgement” (Matt 5:22) and the Bible says “He who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). To be angry with someone is to ‘feel and express strong displeasure and hostility’ towards that person. HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE THIS?
God looks upon hatred in the heart to be as wicked as murder. We can break His law even with our attitude and thoughts.

7. “You shall not commit adultery”
Jesus warns “You have heard that it was said ‘Do not commit adultery’, but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Have you ever looked lustfully at another person? The Bible warns that adulterers and fornicators (those who have sex before marriage) will NOT enter the kingdom of heaven.

8. “You shall not steal”
Have you ever lifted something that does not belong to you – taken a pen from work and kept it – the value of the item does not matter; theft is theft.
No matter how you justify it, you are a thief.

9. “You shall not lie”
Have you ever lied? Even just once? Then that makes you a liar – it only takes you to murder once to become a murderer and one lie to make you a liar.
The Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8)
Deceitfulness may not matter in your eyes – but in the eyes of God it is sin.

10. “You shall not covet”
This simply means we should not desire anything that belongs to another person – their house, car, money etc..
How may of us are guilty of this?

Well, how did you do?

I don’t think any of us can honestly say that we have not broken any of the commandments. This is what the Bible means when it says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Maybe you are convinced that God is good and because of His great goodness he can overlook a few sins!!

If you knew a judge turned a blind eye to crimes of rape/murder – you certainly would not describe him as a “good judge.”
No – this would be a corrupt judge…
God can never be a corrupt judge as He does not sin!