"And Not of Yourselves. . ."

When we attend the University of South Alabama football games, the players on the field often indicate to the crowd to cheer and make noise.  The cheerleaders actually hold up signs that say "Make Noise."

The aluminum bleachers at the stadium give great opportunity to make a lot of noise.  Pounding feet, hands, even keys on these bleachers generates tons of noise and the crowd loves to do so.  Whether this actually influences the outcome of the game is unknown.  We certainly would never say our actions caused our team to win the game, only the actions of those players on the field can do that.

In the same manner, our works -- our good deeds -- never can cause us to enter into heaven.  Only the works of the Lord Jesus can do that.  Our actions can never meet the standard required by God. He requires absolute perfection and until we can obtain the absolute perfection as lived by the Lord Jesus Christ, we can never be justified by our own works.

Thank goodness we don't have to!  Thank the Lord that in His grace and goodness He has provided a way for us, a gift for us, to enter into heaven not based on our works or merit but based on the works and merit of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And all we have to do is accept that gift.  How gracious and merciful is our God!

 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, 

Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood,

 we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if, when we were enemies, 

we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled,

 we shall be saved by His life." 

Romans 5:8-10

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; 

much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness 

shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." 

Romans 5:17

"For the wages of sin is death; 

but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

Romans 6:23