Matthew 5
KJV
20+ For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
In a recent conversation with a friend, this issue of how are we going to be assessed came up! I tried to avoid, evade, and abort it but to no avail !! I kept saying “Can we change the topic, conversation etc but he kept asking! So we sat down to discuss it in an informal manner
My attempt to avoid it is simple I don’t know. Though I said this several times it was such that I had to yield. So what you are about to read are views we both expressed and shared.
We began by asking is it possible that there would be a pass mark. A range! A cut-off point, etc? We both concluded that yes it is likely. We based our conclusion on the above passage.
It is a comparative passage “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,” The word “ except “ is the operative word suggesting that there is a baseline which must be crossed.
The “righteousness “ of the Scribes and Pharisees was set as the baseline which must be crossed before one can “enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Indeed the entire context in which this verse was placed indicates that the bar is higher for Christians.
I told some young men that the examination I wrote and passed to qualify me for a scholarship to study in the UK if it were today I’d have failed to qualify! Each generation or dispensation has its own threshold and standard of assessing who qualifies and who does not.
If this is so, then it follows that yes there is a criterion, a pass mark that one must attain to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
So strive to attain this pass mark. The how is what follows in the second instalment.
What is important is to note that living recklessly, haphazardly, carelessly thinking o God is merciful, forgiving etc and will surely grant one a place regardless is to deceive oneself.
To excel in school we all know what it takes; ask to be told in case you don’t! Ask Azumah Nelson what it took him to become an undefeated champion
Even the great apostle Paul said this about himself and his quest to make the grade. Read it ;
1 Corinthians 9
KJV
27+ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
My dear, there is a pass mark to be attained. Strive to make it. Before we parted company we both agreed on how difficult it would be. But we also agreed that God has given us a bonus mark; the righteousness of Christ! This has been credited to us. All that is left for us is to “top it up”.
God through Christ gave us 70% look for 30% to top up!
Matthew 5:20
NIV
[20] For I tell you that unless your righteousness qsurpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Please this is not a doctrinal teaching or belief, it is a friendly hypothesis just to warn us of the need to be prepared! Surely we must cross a pass mark.
Philippians 2:12 NIV
[12] Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
John Franklin Tamakloe