Why Can’t Good Works Save Us?

A:  Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that,  “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” “Grace” means to receive undeserved favor.  We are saved because God bestowed undeserved favor on us.  It is impossible to go to heaven because of our works.  Romans 3:12 says that, “There is none who does good, no, not one." 

Our works are what separate us from God, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) but it is Christ’s work and Christ’s work alone that bridges that gap, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) and also, “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

James 2:10 says that if you break one law you are a lawbreaker.  Imagine if you were in court for some crime and your lawyer uses this defense:  “Yes, your honor, my client did commit that crime, but he kept all the other laws!”  They’d send you up the river! 

This is God’s world and His laws and when we sin we sin against Him and peace needs to be made between us and God.  Doing good works doesn’t deal with the fact we’ve broken His laws.

* For further study: 

- By Grace, Through Faith
http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/s46.htm