Salvation: Does God give “points” for effort?
When asked if he thought he was going to Heaven when he died, a man said yes because he thought his good points outweighed his bad ones. Is that how people “qualify” for Heaven? Is our entrance into Heaven dependent upon the “points” we are credited with for good works we do? You might agree with that, or you might be surprised about how many people seem to believe that. But what does the Bible tell us about this? Shouldn’t we let that be our guide?
We have a story in the Bible about a young man who asked Jesus what he had to do to have eternal life. We can learn a lot from His answer and what all our Lord had to say to him. Here’s the passage where we learn about this—
Matthew 19:16-26
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
How representative this man’s thinking is of so many people! Then notice our Lord’s answer.
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good [speaking of absolute good or perfect good] but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
It is important to note here that Christ is talking about absolute goodness, not just relative goodness. The divine standard for goodness is that of perfection or absolute goodness. Not just goodness that is relatively good as one may compare his goodness to that of others. It is that perfect goodness that God requires for salvation.
18 He saith unto him, Which [commandments]? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Here’s a perfect example of a man who thinks his SELF righteousness is good enough to earn him his salvation. But though this man may be thought of as a good man, he still doesn’t come up to God’s perfect standard of goodness to merit eternal life. Now note what else our Lord requires of him to help him see his need for a Savior.
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect [TELEIOS = perfect], go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
He tells him to sell his possessions and give the proceeds away because that was to be God’s policy in the coming Millennial Kingdom Christ was offering if they [ the people of Israel] would accept Him as their promised Messiah.
There’s also an article related to this—
Church: Are we to sell our belongings and give away the proceeds?
It is because they rejected their Messiah and didn’t accept Him that the prophesied kingdom was put off to a future time.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Here He’s not talking about Heaven but a kingdom OF Heaven that will be on Earth that is yet to come. Furthermore, He’s not saying wealthy people can’t qualify for entrance into this kingdom of heaven. He’s just saying it is difficult for them. An important part of what he’s saying is that wealthy people tend to be more caught up with material things rather than spiritual ones.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
“The eye of a needle” was the small door within a much larger door at an entrance to a city. City gates were typically closed at nightfall till daybreak. It was nearly impossible to get a camel through one of those smaller “eye of a needle” doors.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. [Emphasis added]
Since the time of this conversation, we know Christ has now paid the penalty for our sins on the cross of Calvary and then rose from His grave to provide all of us with a simple way of salvation. All that’s necessary on our part is faith in Him and the provision He made for our salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
The disciples, of course, knew nothing of this when Christ had His conversation with this young man who asked Him about what He must do to have everlasting life. At that time salvation was secured by accepting this Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s promised Messiah. For more information about that, please see my other articles about it. Here are links to three of them—
Salvation: How were The Twelve Apostles saved?
Salvation: Does it have to be earned by good works?
Works: What about verses that seem to demand them for salvation?
There are people in every generation who suppose they’ve done certain works that are acceptable to God for their salvation and entrance into Heaven. But as with every such issue, we need to look to the Scriptures rightly divided, meaning Scriptures that are addressed to us today, if we’re to have the correct answer. Here are several of those—
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Romans 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. [Emphasis added]
There are numerous other passages in the apostle Paul’s writings that tell us the exact same thing. Your works have absolutely nothing to do with the attainment of your salvation. Your focus must be exclusively on the one work of Christ for your salvation. We don’t gain it by our works plus His; it is by His alone.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel [the good news] which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
When Christ cried out on the cross— “It is finished” the complete payment for the sins of all mankind was made so that anyone could be saved by simply believing He did that for them personally.
1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will [THELO = desires to] have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]
God never gives any of us “partial credit” for our works to obtain salvation. Either we have it by His work and His perfect righteousness, or we don’t have it at all. In fact, the Bible teaches the opposite of “partial credit” before God. With the God of the Bible, Law-keeping is “all-or-nothing.” You either keep all the Mosaic Law, or you break all of the Law.
James 2:10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. [Emphasis added]
So, God doesn’t grade on the curve. It is all or nothing! His justice demands perfect righteousness for salvation. None of us can produce that on our own. Only those who are credited with the righteousness of Christ will enter Heaven. All others will be doomed to everlasting punishment.
2 Thessalonians 1:9
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting [AIONIOS = without end] destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [Emphasis added]
Matthew 25:46
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. [Emphasis added]
Again, this is the righteousness of Christ that He speaks of, not our own works of righteousness.
Romans 4:5-6
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness WITHOUT works, [Emphasis added]
It is a sad situation indeed when people refuse to accept what Christ accomplished through the cross and His resurrection as the sole basis for salvation. There on the cross Christ paid the full penalty for the sins of all mankind, even those who will never accept it.
1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. [Emphasis added]
Only acceptance of Christ’s work is necessary, not for forgiveness, but for what is called justification and resultant salvation. As I sometimes mention, there’s not one verse in all Paul’s thirteen epistles that says we’re forgiven of our sins by faith, but there are many that speak of our need for justification by faith.
Romans 3:27-28
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law [or principle]? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED by faith without the deeds of the law. [Emphasis added]
Justification and forgiveness are two totally different matters. Forgiveness was provided at the cross and justification and resultant salvation occur at the point of one’s belief and faith in what happened there.
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [Emphasis added]
Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ [speaking of His merit], even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [Emphasis added]
Galatians 3:10-11
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [Emphasis added]
The Mosaic Law provided a system of law for Israel. But by their many violations of it, it served to help them see their need for a Savior.
Romans 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. [Emphasis added]
The Mosaic Law simply served to lead us to Christ for our salvation.
Galatians 3:24
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [Emphasis added]
Only God’s wrath awaits those who reject or just ignore His gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith in His provision.
Romans 2:5-10
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent [AMETANOETOS = without change of] heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath [THUMOS = anger] and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious [ERITHEIAS = of strife], and do not obey the truth [the gospel message], but obey unrighteousness, indignation [THUMOS = agitated anger] and wrath [ORGE = anger, but less sudden than THUMOS],
9 Tribulation [THLIPSIS = affliction] and anguish [STENOGORIA = distress], upon every soul of man that doeth [KATERGAZOMAI = work out (here it speaks of those who reject God’s provision—the gospel message)] evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh [KATERGAZOMAI = work out (here it speaks of those who accept God’s provision—the gospel message)] good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: [Emphasis added]
Conclusion—
God isn’t using our good works as a part of a points system to determine if we’re worthy of salvation. All are sinners and in need of a Savior.
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [Emphasis added]
But in the very next verse of that passage, we’re told of God’s gracious solution to our problem.
Romans 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [Emphasis added]
It is because of this redemptive work of Christ that this is available to anyone. Though some groups try to tell us this work was done only for some, such is not the case. It was done to make salvation available to everyone, including you.
Again, 1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will [THELO = desires to] have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]
If you’ve not received Him before, I hope you will now. He knows your thoughts. Just accept His work instead of your own and you will be saved immediately and permanently. All your efforts to make points with God for your salvation are totally unacceptable to Him! There’s nothing anywhere in the Bible that tells us otherwise. If you’ll simply accept His provision for your salvation, you’ll be saved immediately and forever.