Of Good Works
We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God.
The heresy of Pelagianism, the teaching that man can merit or earn eternal life through his own efforts, apart from divine grace, was condemned by the Council of Carthage in 418 A.D. This does not imply, however, that the early church wrestled with this teaching for almost four centuries before finally condemning it. Rather, the “faith once delivered” has always affirmed the words of the Apostle Paul, that it was “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” (Titus 3:5)
This central truth has found expression in many hymns ancient and modern, e.g., “Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, all for sin could not atone. Thou must save, and Thou alone.”
