Why is Alternative 1 a poor choice?

I rely on my good works for my salvation

Can we be saved by our own deeds?

A Biblical reminder of Jesus' finished work

There are many who believe in God yet rely on their own good works to be saved, rather than putting their full faith in Jesus' atoning work. This is a serious misconception that goes against the Bible's message of salvation by grace through faith. The Bible clearly teaches that our own efforts can never make us righteous before God. Let us examine why it is impossible to be saved by works and why we must trust completely in the finished work of Jesus.

1.

Jesus' work on the cross is finished

As Jesus hung on the cross, he said the powerful words: ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30). This proclaims that Jesus accomplished all that was necessary for our salvation through His sacrifice. He paid the price for sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:10).

To try to add to this finished work by one's own deeds is to minimise what Jesus did. It is like saying that His sacrifice was not enough, which contradicts Scripture. Paul explains this clearly in Galatians 2:21:

“..for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” - Galatians 2:21. (KJV)

2.

Salvation is by grace, not by works

The Bible makes it clear that no one can be saved by keeping the law or doing good works. In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9. (KJV)

Salvation is thus entirely a gift from God. Our works cannot earn it because we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Our works, however good they may seem, can never fulfil God's holy standard.

3.

Works as a basis for salvation lead to pride

Relying on one's own works to be saved can lead to pride and self-glorification. It can also create a sense that we ‘deserve’ God's mercy. But the Bible teaches that we are dependent on God's mercy and that no one can boast before Him. In Romans 4:2-5, Paul explains that Abraham could not glorify himself before God, despite his deeds:

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” - Romans 4:2-5 (KJV)

So it is not our deeds that make us righteous before God, but faith in Him that justifies the wicked.

4.

Own deeds reject God's grace and reconciliation

Those who think they are doing ‘God's will’ by relying on their own works are missing the point of the Gospel. Jesus said in John 6:29:

“..This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” - John 6:29. (KJV)

It is faith in Christ that makes us righteous, not our works. By trying to become righteous through the law or our own efforts, we reject the grace that God offers and miss out on the freedom that Christ gives us.

5.

Works are a fruit of salvation, not its foundation

It is important to understand that good works have their place in the Christian life, but they are not the basis of our salvation. Instead, they are a natural fruit of our salvation by faith. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10. (KJV)

So works are the result of having already been saved, not a method of being saved. They are an expression of our love and obedience to God, not a way to earn His favour.

6.

Jesus warned against relying on your own deeds

Jesus Himself warned against relying on works without a real relationship with Him. In Matthew 7:21-23 He says:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)

Here we see that even those who do many ‘good works’ in the name of the Lord can be rejected if they do not know Jesus and trust in Him. Believing in God is not enough if we rely on our own works to be saved.

‘Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.’- Jam 2:19. (KJV)

The Bible teaches that it is through faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross that we become righteous before God. Our works can never pay for sin or make us righteous. Jesus' words “It is finished” mean that everything needed for our salvation is already done. All we need to do is humble ourselves before God, confess our sin and put our faith fully in Jesus Christ. As Paul says in Romans 5:1:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”. - Romans 5:1. (KJV)

Let us therefore abandon the idea that our own works can save us and rest instead in the finished work of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Your own ‘good works’ mean NOTHING to your salvation.

At the heart of Christianity is a message of grace and reconciliation, available to everyone through Jesus Christ. This is not just a theological principle, but the basis for how we understand our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. Your salvation is by God's grace and gift and depends solely on whether you have received the reconciliation to God through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ. If you believe and trust with your heart in Jesus' payment on the cross, that he took on the punishment for your sins in your place; that he died, was buried, that he shed his blood to pay for your sins. It is through faith in the power of Jesus' bodily resurrection that we gain the victory over death, NOT because of anything you have done yourself.

• If you give money to charity, which in itself is worth serious consideration, but it can NOT pay for your sins.

• You will NOT even be saved if you go to church regularly (hopefully you go to church regularly because you are saved).

• You will NOT be saved if you repeat a prayer.

• You will NOT be saved if you were baptised in water as an infant, which is something your parents did for you. - Read the Bible's answer to the question ‘Behold, here is water; what hinders me from being baptised?’ asked in Acts chapter 8, verse 36: The answer is in verse 37: "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’, (Acts 8:37) is a deleted verse in corrupt Bibles). An infant cannot possibly believe with all his heart and since you as an infant were NOT saved, the result of water baptism was only that you got wet.

• You do NOT get absolution for belonging to a religious community that claims to be your salvation.

What can you add to a finalised payment?

When Jesus exclaimed ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30) on the cross, He was declaring that the full payment for sin had been made - once and for all. It was a final statement confirming that nothing more need be or can be added for man to be reconciled to God.

(KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.. - Joh. 19:30. (KJV)

To try to add anything to Jesus' completed payment, such as one's own deeds, religious rituals, or personal endeavour, is to deny the sufficiency of His sacrifice. It is like saying that His death and resurrection were not enough, which contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture:

1. It minimises the work of Jesus: It implies that His sacrifice was not complete (Heb. 10:14).

2. It rejects grace: Salvation is by grace through faith, not works (Eph. 2:8-9). Adding works invalidates grace (Rom. 11:6).

3. It breeds pride: Trying to contribute to one's own salvation leads to pride, where we think we can earn something God has already given for free.

Everything needed for salvation is already accomplished by Jesus. All we can do is put our faith in His work, humble ourselves before God and receive the gift of salvation. Again, consider what Paul says in Galatians 2:21:

“..for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”. - Gal. 2:21. (KJV)

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The consequences of your choice

Your most important choice is about your soul

Eternal life or eternal punishment

The choice we face is crucial and has eternal consequences. Choosing Jesus as our atonement means eternal life, while trying to pay for our own sins only leads to eternal punishment. There is a clear dividing line; believing in Jesus gives us access to the Kingdom of God, while denying Jesus and his sacrifice leads to eternal loss.

Choose your payment method

Your payment or Jesus' payment

Are you sure you will go to heaven when you die?

There is an eternity with God for the saved and an eternity in hell for the lost. Choosing Jesus Christ's payment for your sins through faith in His blood is the most critical decision you will ever make. It determines your eternal future and defines your relationship with God. In this choice, there is no room for neutrality; you either choose to trust in Jesus' finished work on the cross or to rely on your own abilities, which is doomed to failure.

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." - 1Jo. 5:11-12. (KJV)

”For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. - 1Cor 1:18. (KJV)

God's judgement and hell

A Biblical reminder of eternity

The Bible clearly teaches that God is righteous and that He will one day judge the world. It also speaks of hell as a real and terrifying destination for those who reject God and do not repent. This is a topic often ignored in our day, but God's judgement and hell are central themes in Scripture.

1.

God's righteous judgement

God is holy and righteous, which means that He cannot ignore sin. Every person will stand before Him to give an account of their life. Hebrews 9:27 says:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” - Heb 9:27. (KJV)

Judgement is inevitable, and no one can escape it. Jesus himself emphasised that judgement will be fair and that all our deeds, even our words, will be judged:

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” - Mat 12:36-37. (KJV)

2.

Hell in the Bible

Hell is a real place where God's wrath and justice are fulfilled against sin. The word ‘hell’ is used 54 times in the King James Bible and refers to a place of eternal punishment and separation from God.

A place of eternal fire and suffering:

"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." - Mat 25:46. (KJV)

Jesus often spoke of hell as a place where ‘the fire never goes out’ and ‘the worm does not die’ (Mark 9:43-48).

A prison for the wicked:

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death..” - Rev 21:8. (KJV)

Ett tillstånd av evig separation från Gud:

“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” - 2 Th 1:9. (KJV)

3.

Why does hell exist

Hell is not a human invention, but a reality that the Bible describes clearly. Jesus himself explains its purpose in Matthew 25:41:

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" - Mat 25:41. (KJV)

This verse gives us an insight into why hell exists and who it was originally intended for. It is also clear from Scripture that it is not only for the devil and his fallen angels, but also for those who choose to reject God and His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 25:41 that hell was not originally created for humans, but for the devil (Satan) and his fallen angels. Satan rebelled against God and dragged some of the angels down with him (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:7-9). As a result of their rebellion, God prepared hell as a place for their eternal punishment. It is a place where God's justice against evil and sin is fulfilled. Although hell was originally prepared for the devil and his angels, it also becomes the final destination for people who choose to live in sin and reject God's offer of salvation. Revelation 20:15 says:

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Rev 20:15. (KJV)

The Book of Life contains the names of those who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour and had their sins forgiven. Those who are not written in this book have chosen to face God's judgement without the atoning blood of Jesus, and their punishment will be hell. This reminds us that hell is not only a place of punishment but also of separation from God. Those thrown into the lake of fire are not there because God wants them to be, but because they have chosen to reject His grace and salvation. Hell exists to demonstrate God's justice. God is perfectly holy and righteous, and He must judge sin. Sin cannot exist in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13). Hell is where the full consequences of sin are revealed. It is also a reminder that God takes sin very seriously.

In Revelation 20:10 we are told that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire and tormented day and night for ever and ever. This shows that hell is not just a temporary place of punishment, but an eternal existence for those who reject God. It is important to understand that God does not want anyone to go to hell. In 2 Peter 3:9 it says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance..” - 2 Pe 3:9. (KJV)

God has made every effort to save us from hell by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins (John 3:16). Hell only becomes a person's final destination if he or she chooses to reject this offer of salvation.

Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:15 teach us that:

• Hell is a place prepared for God's enemies: it was originally created for Satan and his angels, but it is also the punishment for those who choose sin and reject God.

• There is no neutral option: All people must choose between following God through Jesus Christ or remaining in sin and facing eternal separation from God.

• God offers salvation: Through faith in Jesus, we can escape hell and have our names written in the book of life. This is a gift that we cannot earn, but only receive by faith (Eph. 2:8-9).

According to Matthew 25:41, it was originally created for the devil and his fallen angels, but it also becomes the final destination for people who reject God's salvation. As Revelation 20:15 says, those who are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. But God does not want anyone to be lost. Through Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to escape this fate and gain eternal life. The choice is ours: to receive God's grace through faith in Christ or to face His justice without a Saviour. As the Bible reminds us:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” - Deu 30:19. (KJV)

4.

Jesus often warned of hell

Jesus himself spoke the most about hell in the whole Bible. He emphasised the importance of avoiding this place and urged people to repent of their sins. One example is the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31, where Jesus tells in detail about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man, who ends up in hell, is in torment and asks for his loved ones to be warned so that they don't end up there too.

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." - Luk 16:19-31. (KJV)

Jesus also warned that our life choices have eternal consequences:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” - Mat 7:13-14. (KJV)

5.

Can you escape judgement and hell?

Despite the dire warning of God's judgement and hell, the Bible offers hope. Through Jesus Christ, God has opened a way for us to be saved from that just judgement. Jesus died on the cross and took the punishment for our sins, so that you can receive forgiveness and eternal life. In John 3:16-18 it says:

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”. - Joh 3:16-18 (KJV)

6.

What can you do?

The first step is to recognise that you are a sinner in need of God's mercy. You must repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Acts 3:19 says:

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”. Acts 3:19. (KJV)

When we believe in Jesus and receive His atoning work, we can escape judgement and hell. As Paul explains in Romans 8:1:

“THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Rom 8:1. (KJV)

The Bible is clear: God's judgement is real, and hell is a terrible place of eternal punishment for those who reject God. The word ‘hell’ is used 54 times in the King James Bible, showing how serious this subject is. But God, in His love and grace, has given us a way to salvation through Jesus Christ.

The most important question for every human being is: ‘Am I ready for judgement?’ The answer lies in humbling yourself before God, repenting of everything that hinders you from receiving Jesus' saving grace. Through Him, you can escape judgement and share in the joy of eternal life in God's presence.