Ephesians 2v8-9: For 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.
Luke 18v9-14: And He[Jesus] spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote unto his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

In the first passage the apostle Paul is quite clear, Salvation is not of works, Salvation is a gift of God. In the second passage we have a parable the Lord Jesus taught. The Pharisee had done many works, fasting twice in the week and giving tithes of all he possessed, and in these he boasted thinking he would be saved through them. But the Lord Jesus tells us it was not him but the publican who went home justified. For the publican recognised his situation before our Holy God, recognising his need for mercy.

Isaiah 64v6: But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Here the prophet, Isaiah, is clear, all our righteousnesses, that is every good work that we might do are as filthy rags in God's eyes, they have been stained by our iniquities.

Romans 3v23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Paul in his letter to the Romans states clearly that we have all sinned and so in our works have come short of the glory of God.

Now read What saith the Scriptures
on the Certainity of death and judgement	on the Certainity of Salvation by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ
on Christ and why He came	Back to topics menu