A Sinner May Ask, "What About My Good Works?"

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In the soulwinning business, one of the greatest forms of persecution by the unbelieving crowd is this, "Surely a God of justice will certainly grant me into Heaven for my good works."  The answer is no, no, no.  Here's a few facts that should be addressed about works salvation as some objections against such talking of self-righteousness like the rich young ruler:
  • Works salvation is NOT at all realistic or practical.  Remember the thief on the cross who received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior did show works but to the works salvationist, that will not be enough.  Remember he was nailed to the cross and he could not do all the good works to be saved.  Or one may remember Lazarus the beggar was so weak, he could not work for his salvation.  The god of the works salvation crowd can't be good and merciful.
  • Isaiah 64:6 declares that man's own righteousness is but filthy rags.  Man in his own state is but a man who needs salvation.  In fact, Isaiah 1:18 talks about the need to be washed by the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • In John 3, Jesus emphasized one thing, "You must be born again."  Not being born again as a baby or be reincarnated because reincarnation isn't true (Hebrews 9:27).  Jesus was also firm in that chapter that whoever rejects Him is already condemned.  
  • John 8:44 has Jesus warning people if they believe not that He is the One sent, that He is God the Son, they will die in their sins.  Works salvation is superficial belief, Christian salvation is putting the trust on full reliance on Him, hands down, nothing in his hands he brings, only to the cross of Jesus he clings.
  • John 14:6 has Jesus declare that He is the ONLY WAY to the Father and nobody else.  Man's own belief system deviates from the only Way to the Father, Jesus Christ.  They try to get through THEIR WAY like good works, "prophets" (actually profiteers of false religion), saints, Mary, ordinances, religion, church membership, etc.  
  • Romans 3 addresses the truths of sinful man- that man is NOT basically good, all men are liars, deceivers, having throats that are open graves.. in short man has fallen short of the glory of God.  The Law declares man GUILTY before God (v. 19). 
  • Romans 10:3 addresses the issue of man being ignorant of God's righteousness try to establish their owi righteousness.  That means their standard for righteousness is not God's Law which converts the sinner from error but rather their own law which is prone to MUCH ERROR.
  • Ephesians 2:8-10 is the formula of Christian transformation.  Good works do not save but they are prepared ONLY for the saved.  Nobody can boast about their good works because it's the work of God.  Refer to Philippians 2:13 that says that it is God not man that is at work.
  • Galatians 2:21 is clear that if righteousness were by the Law then Christ died for nothing.  The Law points to Jesus Christ, not give righteousness to whoever obeys it.  Christians obey the Law because they are fulfilling the Law by God's grace not the other way around.
  • Hebrews 9:14 calls every man's effort to do good but a dead work.
  • Titus 3:15 is clear that it's not man's works of righteousness but by God's life changing MERCY that saved man.  As said, Titus 2:11-15 talks about the results of salvation NOT the requirement of salvation.
  • James 2:10-11 is clear on this- NOBODY can keep the whole Law.  If a man breaks even at one point, he is already GUILTY OF ALL meaning that the Law can only save anybody IF THEY EVER KEEP IT WHOLE.  Yet in the midst of everything, people sin even the best of Christians in fact it can be so even daily.  A Christian may not be living sinfully in pleasure but even mere thoughts are sinful.  So much for using James 2 to support the heresy of works salvation.