You Cannot Merit Heaven

It is prevalent in men to believe that because they do something external they can merit anything before a Holy God.  Men doing something internal is not any better, in terms of merit, but let us think upon the external for that is where often we try to show ourselves as 'good enough' before the Lord God Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth.  We do good works, serving others, mercy ministries, social justice causes, we read our Bibles, theological books by Calvin, and are always happy (think Joel Osteen, who is a false teacher).  

But none of that will make you righteous or holy, none of that will save you from your sins that you commit.  You don't believe you sin?  Have you ever said something mean or thought of killing someone?  That is murder (6th Commandment).  Have you ever looked or thought of a man or woman lustfully?  That is adultery (7th Commandment).  Have you ever gossiped or lied about anything? That is bearing false witness (9th Commandment).  You have broken the commandments of God and therefore you have sinned.  The wage of just one sin, one little sin...what you deserve for your work of just one sin is death.  God says, "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23).  But God makes it even clearer on this topic of external 'works'.  Isaiah 64:6 says, "And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment."  And it is not a pretty picture that polluted garment, it is gross and disgusting!  Nothing you can do internal or external can save you from the death you deserve because of your sin.  Rather it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can save you.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  The good news is that Romans 6:23 doesn't end where I stopped above, it continues and says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Believe then, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household (Acts 16:31). Do not think that you going to Church will save you, going and 'paying your dues' will save you, giving money to good causes will save you, none of that can save you.  Jesus Christ alone can save you.  "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).   Octavius Winslow points this truth out in a quote about baptism.  It is interesting here that for the word 'baptism' (not 'baptismal') in this quote and outside of the first sentence you can substitute any internal or external thought, word, or deed that you believe can merit you salvation and it fits.  He answers it here.  Winslow says, 

"We do not hesitate to pronounce the doctrine of 'baptismal regeneration' to be the paramount lie of Satan; the most subtle and fatal weapon which this arch foe of our race ever forged for the destruction of men's souls in eternal perdition!  Do not build your hope of glory upon your baptism. You are lost to all eternity if you do. You must be born again if ever you enter the kingdom of heaven. If you plunge into eternity clutching the airy fiction, the fatal notion, that you passed from spiritual death into spiritual life in your baptism; that in baptism you were regenerated, adopted, justified, made holy and saved; you have staked your eternal happiness upon the most fatal lie!  In many instances, the unhappy victim of this delusion passes away, undeceived until the deception is too late to rectify!"