Question
Answer!
Can I be Saved by just being Nice?
By Nab B. Sep 2, 2021
Question:
Can nice people who are not born-again be saved?
Answer:
First, let's be clear and honest: Only God knows who is saved or not saved! Whether nice people will be saved or not is for God to decide. But some guidelines in the scriptures can help.
Second, one can fully trust God's judgment of people, whether they are born-again, nice, or not-so-nice! This is so because His judgment differs vastly from ours. Here are a few reasons that will make you trust God's judgment fully:
God sees all things: He sees ALL causes, motives, and circumstances that we humans are unable to see. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Heb 4:13)
God judges only our inner being: This is something humans aren't able to do. We depend on external signs and appearances when judging, but God sees the inner heart. If you can believe it, God is more merciful and righteous in His judgment than humans are toward one another!
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." (Proverbs 21:2)
"Mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13)
"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." (Matt 18:11)
God's decisions [judgment] are way better than we think: For example, in full justice, God will judge those who lived by the law of Christ according to that law. Those who lived apart from Christ's law accordingly. Also, those who lived by Christ's law without knowing it will be judged according to their conscience. This is well expressed in Paul's words:
"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves. Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another." (Romans 2:13-15)
God's Way to be Saved!
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter said concerning Jesus,
"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Jesus said,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
So, based on God's truth, no one could be saved and know the Father fully except through Jesus Christ! Note that it's still possible, in my opinion, that this might include those who obey Christ even without knowing it. Why do I say this? Because the passage in Romans 2:13-15 states that "It is not the HEARERS, but the DOERS of the law shall be JUSTIFIED."
It's the one who acts, not just hears that counts! On the Day of judgment, there will be surprises indeed. Some who thought they served God, will be rejected with "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Others who thought of themselves as nothing might be honoured, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last first."
Can a Person Be Saved By Just Being Nice?
It’s admirable to be nice but I do not think this is why one is saved! First, one has to define what they mean by 'being nice'! God allows all kinds of people (nice or not-so-nice) to be born, live a full life, and then face His judgment based on their heart's response. This was figuratively hinted at in Luke 16:24-25 by showing that we (somehow) are responsible for how we use our lives on earth:
"Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things...but now you are tormented.”
We know that we are not saved because of our good deeds or by being NICE. It is God's grace, His free gift through faith and trust,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
A case in point is the first Christian Gentile, Cornelius. Before being born again, he was already an incredibly NICE MAN, “Devout, righteous, God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need, he prayed to God regularly.” Quite the resumé! Something was still lacking! Cornelius needed to accept Christ and RECEIVE the gift of the Holy Spirit. God saw his heart and drew him in. On that day, he became a born-again Christian, a son of God. Only then, he could ENTER the kingdom and be saved. (See Acts chapter 10)
It's clearly expressed that salvation (God's rescue mission) is only through Jesus Christ."And Peter says to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38-39)
How does God reach people?
God searches people's hearts to find out if they seek Him or not. For those who do, He will engineer events to draw them regardless of the circumstances.
This is not done by human intellect or persuasion! Something else needs to happen, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." (John 6:44) The word 'draw' actually means: to drag, draw in, induce, pull, or persuade. In other words, it is God who draws, persuades, and induces a person to come to Him and His Son only when their hearts yearn and seek Him.
Knowing this, the choice remains ours to seek God. Pray that more will respond.