If reaching heaven was about making ourselves pleasing to him, then maybe so. But God says in the Bible that just one sin against him makes pleasing him impossible (James 2: 10). Just one sin makes us deserving of his judgment (Ezekiel 18: 4). What sad news! But the Bible’s sad news has a purpose: it shows us our sins and our need for a Savior. It prepares us to receive the Bible's glad news: God has sent us a Savior!

God the Father sent His eternal, almighty Son into the world as the sinless man Jesus. Jesus, as Savior, came to live and die in our shoes. First, he lived the pleasing (perfect) life the Father requires of us in the Ten Commandments. Jesus lived it in our place because we could not live such a life ourselves. Then, on the cross, He shed his holy blood, the blood of God, to suffer what we deserved for our sins, purifying the whole world from sin (I John 1: 7; I John 2: 2).

Believing in Jesus, we wear his perfection as our own, and are cleansed from our sin by his blood! In Jesus, believers are actually pleasing to God the Father despite their sins! As II Corinthians 5: 21 says: "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness (perfection) of God." That’s salvation!

So we don't go to church to please God since we are pleasing to him already in Jesus’ perfection and cleansing blood! Yet, it is important to go to church, God’s house! The reason is simple! God knows we feel guilt over our sinful thoughts, words, and actions— of today and long ago. He knows how quickly this guilt can erode our confidence in Jesus for salvation and drain away joy. Everyday He wants to reassure us of salvation in Jesus’ perfection and cleansing blood.

Church is, above all else, a place where God comes to us through the glad news of the Bible, in Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Here our confidence of salvation in Christ is renewed. Here we are strengthened against the trouble that exists in the world and in our lives. Soon, we’ll be in heaven!

Now you know the importance of going to church. If you are looking for a church, we hope you will join us on Sunday!

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you And be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with favor And give you peace. Amen.