Imagine that you are making application for heaven. What would you list as your qualifications?
- I have always believed in God.
- I'm thought of as a religious person.
- I have tried to live a good life.
- I have been baptized.
- I go to church.
- I haven't done anything really bad.
- I have friends who will vouch for me.
If you were to list any of these qualifications on an application for heaven, it would indicate that you don't understand the worthlessness of religion. The only application that would be accepted by heaven would be one on which you listed your qualification as follows:
- I can cite no merit of my own.
- I have been a sinner from birth.
- I am coming not in my name but in Christ's.
- I believe Jesus is the Son of God and my Savior.
- I believe He rose from the dead.
- I have put my trust in Jesus Christ to save me.
This is the confidence of the apostle Paul who to distinguish between religion and Christ wrote, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, least anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:8-10).