Can We Earn Our Way to Heaven?

Life revolves around a system of rewards and punishments. As children, we quickly learn that good behavior pays off, while naughtiness can lead to unpleasant consequences. In school, we know we are more likely to get good grades if we study. In our careers, hard work can lead to a promotion, while slacking off is a quick way to get fired. So it’s only natural to think that God deals with us the same way. But our Creator is not like humans – he operates on an entirely different level. The Bible is clear that we can never earn our salvation, no matter how hard we try, which leads to two crucial questions: Why is that? And how, then, can we be saved?

The answer to the first question is simple: to merit salvation, we need to be perfect. ⁽¹⁾ Although conceivable in theory, we all know it’s impossible. There is not a human being on the face of the earth who has never sinned (well, except Jesus). Even the smallest transgression is enough to close the door to heaven.

God is holy, and he can’t simply overlook our sin and treat us as if our sin didn’t matter; his nature won’t allow it. Just as darkness and light can’t co-exist in the same place, God can’t have anything to do with evil. ⁽²⁾ Therefore, we can’t approach him on our own merits or with our own standards. If we tried, his holiness would burn us up, as surely as the heat of the sun would annihilate us if we got too close. ⁽³⁾ God himself needs to make a way for us.

The problem with perfection is that it can never be restored once it’s ruined. Let’s say I wanted to paint my room white, but I accidentally poured some red dye into the white paint – it would now be useless. Adding white to my lovely shade of pink won’t make it white again, just lighter. In the same way, good works can never remove the stain of sin. We can never attain perfection, no matter how many good deeds we perform. It’s like adding a little white paint to a can of black, hoping to make it completely white. Not going to happen.

The good news is that God understands our predicament and has provided a solution. Let us return to my paint illustration for a moment. Once I’m stuck with the unwanted shade of pink, the only thing I can do is rush to the store to buy a new can of white.

The same principle applies to what Jesus has done for us on the cross. He has taken our sins upon himself so he can give us his perfection in return. ⁽⁴⁾ As a result, God declares us righteous and treats us as if we’re perfect. This doesn’t mean we’ve become sinless. We’ll struggle with sin until we die. He knows we’re not yet righteous, but he treats us as if we are. This is because Jesus has done what we could never do: he exchanged our sin for his righteousness, allowing us to enjoy fellowship with God, which is what salvation is all about. We can now approach him without fear of being burned up by his holiness.

There is only one way to receive the perfection Jesus offers: by faith. ⁽⁵⁾ We certainly can’t earn it – that’s the whole point of Jesus’ death. Amazingly, God is willing to take away our sin and exchange it for his righteousness if only we will repent and trust in Jesus. He went to extraordinary lengths to reconcile humanity with himself. How can we not respond with open arms to such an incredible display of love?

⁽¹⁾ Matthew 5:48, Deuteronomy 18:13

⁽²⁾ 1 John 1:5

⁽³⁾ Exodus 33:20

⁽⁴⁾ 2 Corinthians 5:21

⁽⁵⁾ Romans 1:17, Ephesians 2:8–9