Some people think their good works and rituals such as: baptism, confession, communion, and purgatory will make them right with God and save them. When churches teach this, what they are saying is, Jesus could not fully accomplish our salvation, but needs our assistance. If we could obtain salvation on our own merits, then Jesus died a horrible death for no reason. He could have stayed in heaven and just hoped we were good enough to get in. We cannot accomplish righteousness on our own. Galatians 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Romans 11:6, But if, it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Ezekiel 33:13, If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in THEIR righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. Trusting in your righteousness for salvation, is a salvation issue.
Paul in the book of Romans explains that works do not save you. Romans 4:2-5, For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. In John 6:28-29, Jesus gave his disciples only one required work, to believe. If I chose to earn my salvation over believing, then I will get the wages for my labors, and I, being a sinner, don’t want the wages I earned, or I will end up in hell. I will trust in the grace of God for giving us (as a gift) the sinless wages he earned.
You don’t have to be scared God’s going to kick you to the curb, if you step out of line. You’re his bride! You can’t get divorced because your wife didn’t clean the house, or cook dinner (works). If we get into heaven, we can earn rewards for our good works, but they will not be the reason we got there (Revelation 22:12).
