Do you expect to go to heaven? On what do you base your hope? Your good deeds or the cross of Jesus? Many believe that God in His mercy will forgive all people whose good deeds outweigh their sins. But the gospel of Christ is totally and blessedly different.

The message of the cross offers forgiveness to everyone, with no consideration whatever of merit. It repudiates the common belief that our good and bad deeds will be weighed to determine our eternal destiny.

It was on the cross that a sin-canceling atonement was made by the Savior, Jesus Christ. Now full and free forgiveness is granted to anybody and everybody on the basis of faith alone. All calculation of merit is excluded. All weighing of good deeds on a scale is ruled out.

The demands of God's perfect justice were met when our substitute, Jesus Christ, bore our sin on the cross, suffered our penalty, and paid our debt (Rom. 3:24). It was because of God's great love that He saved us. Titus 3 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (v.5).

So what are you depending on--good deeds or the cross? Trust in Christ today for forgiveness of your sin.  — Vernon C. Grounds