There is a quiet assumption that lives in the hearts of many — the assumption that goodness earns God, that kindness opens heaven's gate, that a life well-lived among neighbours is the same as a life reconciled to its Maker. It sounds noble. It sounds almost biblical. And yet, it is one of the most dangerous misunderstandings a soul can carry, because it dresses itself in virtue while quietly bypassing the Cross.
This course exists to answer, with clarity and Scripture, one of the most searching questions ever asked of the human heart: "Is being a good person or God-fearing the same as being saved?" Through the account of a remarkable Roman centurion named Cornelius — a man whose character reads like a checklist of everything the world calls "godly" — we will discover that goodness, however genuine, was never the currency of the new birth.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, the learner should be able to:
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Distinguish between being a good, god-fearing person and being born again.
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Explain, using the account of Cornelius, why good deeds could not save him.
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Explain the biblical requirements for salvation as stated in Romans 10:9–10.
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Distinguish between merely believing and confessing the Lordship of Christ.
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Explain what is meant by "the will of the Father" as the true entry requirement into God's Kingdom.
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Explain the meaning of eternal life (zoe) and how it is received.