Many people believe that their religious efforts, good deeds, or personal sacrifices will earn them a place in heaven. When asked, “Why should God let you into His heaven?” the common answers are: I was baptized, I kept the sacraments, I go to church, I feed the homeless, I try my best to keep the commandments. But the truth is, none of these things can change the real problem—our sin nature (Old Adam).

We Are Born Sinners, Not Sinners Because We Sin

Most people think they are sinners because they commit sins. But Scripture teaches that we sin because we were born sinners. This all goes back to Adam. Before he sinned, he was in perfect communion with God. But the moment he disobeyed, that communion was broken. His sinless nature turned into a sin nature, and every person born after him inherited this fallen condition.

We are made in three parts: ✅ Body – Our five senses, how we interact with the physical world. ✅ Soul – Our mind, will, and emotions. ✅ Spirit – The part of us designed to communicate with God.

Because of Adam’s disobedience, our spirit died. We are now spiritually separated from God, and all born since Adam and Eve are born with a sin nature—a nature that naturally rebels against God and manifests itself by breaking His law.

The Law Was Never the Solution

Many believe keeping the commandments will fix this problem, but the Law was never given to change our sin nature—it was given to expose it.

Think of the Law like a mirror. If you come in from a hard day’s work and look into the mirror, it shows you how dirty you are. But can the mirror clean you? No! It has no power to remove the dirt—it only reveals the truth. The Law does the same thing:

“…for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20, NKJV)

The Law shows us our sinful condition, but it has no power to change it. The same is true for baptism, religious rituals, good works, or moral living—none of these can touch the real problem.

Only God Can Fix What Is Spiritual

Since the problem is spiritual—our dead, sinful nature—only God can fix it. That’s why Jesus Christ came. The Law was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14), and through His death and resurrection, He took away sin’s power—because it was the Law that gave sin its strength. Through Christ, God made a way for us to be born again.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6, NKJV)

We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by works, not by the Law, and not by human effort. Anyone trying to earn salvation nullifies the grace of God (Galatians 2:21) and remains lost in their sins.

The Pushback: “So, You’re Saying We Can Do Whatever We Want?”

Every time this truth is preached, the same objections arise: So, we don’t have to keep the commandments? We can sin all we want and still be saved? That’s a false gospel! But Paul faced the same accusations:

‘For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.’” (Romans 3:7-8, NKJV)

No, grace is not a license to sin. But neither is the Law the means of salvation. A true believer, born again by the Spirit of God, does not live in rebellion but in gratitude for the finished work of Christ.

Final Thoughts: No One Will Boast Before God

On Judgment Day, no one will stand before God and say, Look at all I did for salvation. No one will be able to present their good works, law-keeping, or religious devotion as proof of righteousness. The only acceptable answer will be: “I believe the gospel”.

The bottom line? No amount of water can wash away sin. No religious act can change a person’s sinful nature. No good work can fix what is spiritually dead. Only God can make us new through Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)

Praise God for His amazing grace!

Your comments are welcomed. God bless.