Question:
In the Bible, it says that Jesus told the rich young ruler that in order to get into heaven he would have to give away all his possessions. If I were a rich person and I did positive things with my money (did good things for the poor), would I be allowed in heaven?
Answer:
Not on the basis of your works, for the Scripture says, “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). Jesus put the challenge to the rich young ruler because he claimed to have kept the whole law from his youth up. One purpose of the law is to convict man of sin and his need of salvation (Romans 7:7).