Will Being Morally Good Save Us?

A querist asks, “Will being morally good save us on judgment day?” The Scriptures tell us that we cannot be saved by our own merit, our own righteousness, or personal works (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:3). To be in a saved state, we must be “in Christ” where all spiritual blessings reside (Galations 3:26-27; Ephesians 1:3).

As an example, when the following morally good individuals "obeyed from the heart" the saving gospel of Christ (Romans 6:17; Romans 1:16), they were in a saved state “in Christ” (Romans 8:1). We know from the biblical record regarding Cornelius (Acts 10), that even though he was good moral man, he was lost until he obediently responded to the saving gospel message that Peter preached (Acts 10:44-48).

The Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8:26-40 was a worshiper of God (Acts 8:27), a reader of the Scriptures (Acts 8:30), and a trusted treasurer of the queen, yet he was lost until he was obedient to the saving gospel preached by Philip (Acts 8:35-39). Saul of Tarsus was a very zealous and religious man, thinking that he was doing right (Acts 26:9), yet he was lost until he was obedient to the Lord’s will contained in the gospel (Matthew 7:21; Acts 9:1-18).

If we depend upon our morality alone to be saved, we bypass the redeeming blood of Christ — the blood through which our sins are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7; cf. Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).

When we willingly obey the commands of the saving gospel of Christ (John 8:24; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 4:15; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4), we are then “in Christ” and the Lord adds us to His church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47), the church that is comprised of the "saved" (Ephesians 5:23).

Thus, the answer to the querist’s question, “Will being morally good save us on judgment day?” is a definite “NO” according to the inspired Scriptures.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets