Two Types of Religions

More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:8-9 BSB)

But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him - a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:8-9 Amplified Bible)

There are only two types of religions in the world.  One type believed we are saved by our own righteousness derived from our obedience of the law. The other type believed that we saved by the righteousness from God through faith in the faithfulness of Christ. If you want to believe in the first type of religion, you have many choices. If you want the second type, it is only found in the Bible.

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB)

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21 KJV)

Man Sought Their Own Righteousness

Because they were ignorant of God's righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. (Romans 10:3 BSB)

For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. (Romans 10:3 NLT)

Men were ignorant of God's righteousness. They sought to establish their own standard of righteousness and they created many religions.

God Passes Over Sin

God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. (Romans 3:25 NET)

"Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31CSB)

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2 ESV)

God does not condone sin. But God can overlook all sin legally and allow sinners to live without being unjust because He had sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the world, past, present and future. Thus when Adam sinned, the world was not destroyed straightaway. God can now be justified when He allow us to live while we are yet sinners, giving us an opportunity to be saved. Mercy and justice are reconciled in Christ Jesus.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 1:28-2:4 NLT)

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1:13 NIV)

Many people are confused by God's mercy. When they see the wicked who sinned terribly live without suffering any consequences, they demand that God punishes them. But they overlooked that they themselves are also sinners who commit small sins. They forgot that God is just and punishes all sin, big and small. Because their own sins are small, they did not see them as sin and thought they are righteous.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26 NLT)

God Justifies The Ungodly

Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? (Job 40:8 BSB)

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29 BSB)

Men always want to justify themselves. But it is better to let God justify us.

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 BSB)

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33 BSB)

God Gave Jesus to Secure Our Salvation

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

When two persons break the same law, and one is punished and receive justice, but the other is pardoned and receive mercy, would this be fair?

Mercy is inherently unjust and grace is unfair. Thus every time when God pardons a sinner, He is committing injustice.

How does God reconcile mercy and justice? God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus had died for their sin. Mercy is now freely available to the sinner because God had paid the price for justice.

But justice remain for those who refuse to believe.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

God's Kindness and Severity to Our Sin

See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 NASB)

Sin has two purposes, to show the kindness of God and also His severity.

No matter how heinous a sinner you are, if you come to God for mercy, He will show it to you and pardon you through His Son, who had died for the sins of the world. And let all the wicked people rejoice at this good news from Jesus Christ. There is no one so bad that he cannot be saved by the blood of Jesus.

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 CSB)

If you think that you are good enough to face God, you will realize how severe is His judgement. Every evil thought and every idle word have to be accounted for. There is no one so good that they do not need the saviour.

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. (Matthew 12:36 NLT)

The Just and the Justifier

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26 ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God's Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus' crucifixion]. It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior]. (Romans 3:21-26 Amplified Bible)

God can be the just (He punishes all sin) and the justifier (He forgives all sin) because He had sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins on the cross.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

Obvious And Hidden

Some people's sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 CSB)

Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. (1 Timothy 5:24-25 NLT)

Righteousness Credited As Gift

After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:4-5 NIV)

We understand the the Israelites in Moses time were getting what they do not deserve. But are the Israelites blessed because of Abraham's righteousness? But the Bible said that Abraham's righteousness is credited by God. Abraham did not deserve it either.

What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5 NIV)

Not Of Works

"After the Lord your God has done this for you, don't say in your hearts, 'The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!' No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:4-5 NLT)

The Word of God always emphasize that our salvation and blessings is never the result of our own righteousness. It is always to fulfil God's promise.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7 NASB)

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

God Justifies The Wicked

What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly (ἀσεβῆ), their faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5 NIV)

You are saved by believing in the truth, not by doing good deeds.

Good news! Jesus had already died for your sins. You have nothing else to do and you cannot do anything else to add to what He had already done.

Remove your pride. Admit that you are a wicked sinner who cannot save yourself. Believe in the God who justifies the wicked.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 NIV)

Good Works Cannot Cancel Out Sin

Recently a convicted undergrad molester escapes jail time because the judge cited that his academic results showed he had the "potential to excel in life" and "He was 22 years old when he committed the offences... and the nature of the acts (is) relatively minor." But Singaporeans were outraged that the offender can get lighter sentence because of good grades.

If a person who drove for forty years without breaking any traffic offence, can he be pardoned if he is caught dashing through a red light for the first time?

If a person was involved in a charity that saved thousands of lives, is he entitled to murder one person?

It is strange that some people think that it is just if God will put good works and bad works on a scale and then reward according to which is heavier. If this is justice, why are people angry that the NUS undergraduate molester got a lighter sentence? The judge put his good grades and molesting deeds on a scale and found his good grades heavier than his molesting act.

Good works cannot cancel sin. Justice demands that every sin has to be punished. God is just and is obliged to punish every sin. Otherwise God would be unjust. But God is merciful. How can God pardon the sinner without being unjust?

God does not pardon sinners for free. He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to "the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2)" so that God can now freely pardon any sinner that turn to Him for mercy. Thus justice and mercy can be reconciled and God can be "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)"

Only Jesus Can Save There Is None Else

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up." Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" Looking at them, Jesus *said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:17-27 NASB)

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB)

1. Jesus said only the righteous can have eternal life. (Mark 10:17-19)
2. Many people think they are good enough. (Mark 10:20)
3. But the Bible says there is none righteous enough to be saved. (1 Kings 8:46, Job 25:4, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Psalm 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Roman 3:10, Romans 3:23, Galatians 2:16, 1 John 1:8)
4. Only God can save the sinner by justifying the sinner. (Romans 8:33, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Romans 4:22)
5. He did so by providing His Son Jesus as the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world. (Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:4, Hebrews 2:17, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:2)
6. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Mercy Is Injustice

Has it ever occur to you that it is so unfair that you, as a Christian, are saved, but not the other guy, who may be a better person than you are?

Mercy is injustice. Grace is unfair. When all have sinned and some are punished by death in an eternal hell and others obtained mercy by the grace of God and are not punished, God becomes unjust.

But God is just. How does God reconcile mercy and justice?

God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus had died for their sin. Mercy is now freely available to the sinner because God had paid the price for justice.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood - to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26 NIV)

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2 ESV)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10 ESV)

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. (Psalm 130:3-4 ESV)

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

The Righteous Lack Nothing

The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:3 ESV)

The righteous are those whom God justifies. They are always satisfied.
The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10 ESV)
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. (Psalm 37:25 ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33 ESV)
To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. (1 Corinthians 4:11 NIV)
I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Corinthians 11:27 NIV)

Personal Morality versus Structural Morality

Morality is present at two levels, personal and structural.

A person's moral behaviour is how he behaves. Structural morality usually belongs to a religious, philosophical or cultural system. The system will dictate what is right or wrong. A wrong moral structure is far more devastating that an immoral individual.

So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. (1 Kings 12:28-30 ESV)

Jeroboam was a founder of a kingdom and a dynasty. Personally, he was a capable man. He was not a cruel dictator like what some modern dictators were and he must have been popular. When he proposed the tweaks to the religious practices of Israel, it was accepted by the people.

He made the following changes:
He switched the place of worship from Jerusalem to Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:29);
He instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Tabernacles in Judah (1 Kings 12:32).

This was a structural change and it affected the entire country. Henceforth, Jeroboam became known as "Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin". It led to the early demise of the northern kingdom.

Life And Death; Good And Wicked

I have always emphasize that Christianity is the only religion in the world where the good people go to hell and wicked people go to heaven. I say it again and again because people does not seem to get it.

Let us look at this man (identified as a ruler in Luke 18:18) who came to Jesus as an illustration.

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."
He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."

Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 CSB)

This man honoured his parents, did not kill, did not tell lies, did not commit adultery. He was a good man. But Jesus asked him one question and he went away without eternal life.

At the judgement seat, Jesus is going to ask all the good people on earth one question and they will all be sad. They will not inherit eternal life.

Who are the wicked that go to heaven? The most prominent was the dying thief crucified beside Jesus. He was a thief. He confessed that he was punished justly, for he was getting what he deserved (Luke 23:41). He was a wicked man. But Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

The Bible is a big book with many words. Many times, it seems to tell us that the good will go to heaven and the wicked go to hell. But buried deep in the Bible, right at the beginning, in the book of Genesis, is this verse that tells us God's KPI:

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 NIV)

The righteousness of Abraham was credited to him by God, not something that he earned. It was there from the beginning, not something invented in the New Testament.

Finally, let us listen to the words of the most wicked sinner on earth (by his own confession in writing), none other than Paul the Apostle. Yes, SAINT Paul, the MOST WICKED man on earth.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NLT)

So let all the good people take heed. There is none so good that they do not need the saviour.

And let all the wicked people rejoice at this good news from Jesus Christ. There is no one so bad that he cannot be saved by the blood of Jesus.

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)

Meritocracy Favours The Elites

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin - a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. (Philippians 3:3-6 NLT)

The Apostle Paul gave a list of accomplishment he could have confidence in the flesh:

1. With respect to birth and pedigree, circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews;
2. With respect to observing the Law, a Pharisee who strictly obeyed the Law of Moses;
3. With respect to zeal, persecuting the church;
4. With respect to righteousness under the Law, blameless.

For those who believe in work and meritocracy, they must be like Paul, who was not only self-disciplined, hard working, principled and zealous, he was also born of the right parents and pedigree.

Christianity does not favour the elites.

Christianity is for those who are hopeless, those who cannot make it in life. For an elite like Paul, he must give up all the works of the flesh in order to gain the righteousness that is from Christ.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11 ESV)

The Good That Damn

And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32 ESV)

Christianity is the only religion in the world where good people go to hell and bad people go to heaven.

Good people are like fit triathlon runners. They exercise, they keep fit, they watch their diet and they thought they are healthy. Then one day while running the triathlon, they collapse and die.

Many people think that they can save themselves by doing good deeds, by donating money, by helping the poor, by being religious and being kind. But the Bible tells us only God can save.

Good works blind you to your need of God's grace. Religion numb you from calling out to God for mercy.

"You will be as surely damned by your righteousness, if you trust in it, as you will by your unrighteousness! Christ, alone, the Gift of the free Grace of God - this is the gate of Heaven - but all self-satisfaction, all boasting, all exaltation of yourself above your fellow men is mischievous and ruinous, and will surely be deadly to your spirit forever."
C.H. Spurgeon, 1900, Sermon #2704 Flee from the wrath to come

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3 ESV)

Cannot Be Saved By Own Righteousness

The following quote was taken from a sermon of Adrian Rogers in YouTube, Adrian Rogers: When the Spirit Speaks - RA2318, starting at time 17:00.

QUOTE
Now think with me for a moment. If you can be accounted righteous before God by doing good deeds, by giving your money, by helping the poor, by being religious, being kind, if you can be counted righteous for doing that, listen to me, why did Jesus die? Why did he suffer on that cross if you can be saved by your own righteousness? I submit to you that if you can be saved by doing good, then Calvary was the blunder of the ages.
UNQUOTE

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21 KJV)