Christianity Uncovered: Savation through works

The idea of being a good person and getting to go to heaven is a very common and accepted belief amongst christians and atheists alike. This belief for atheists presents a ground for them to fall back on, lest their ungodly beliefs be incorrect or compromised. In other words, an atheist (that has been a nice person) may believe their whole life that God doesn't exist, but many will still aknowledge the possibilty of their incorrect assumption and therefore, feel more comfortable to say that a good person will go to heaven, regardless of faith. Although this is a common and soothing belief, it is biblically incorrect and should furthermore, be studied on the basis of God's word and not be bound by human instability.

In order to strongly and accurately grasp the concept of salvation through faith alone, we must realize that our idea of something good is corrupt and should not be linked with God's divine understanding of something good. For example, today there are many things that the world would call good that God frowns upon, such as becoming drunk and having premarital sex. Not only do some people consider these good, but many people have a strong sense of pride during a time of financial success or something that has recently been accomplished by them or of something too that effect.

Not only does God consider our view of good to be corrupt, but it is in fact, impossible for a human to commit a good work. In the book of mark, Jesus is called a "good teacher", and although this seems like a good title to us, especially if it is being associated with someone
(Jesus) that has lived a perfect life, Jesus says that he should not be called good, for "no one is good except God alone":

Mark 10:18 "and Jesus said to him, 'why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.'"

If we know that even Jesus the Christ, who lived a blameless life, was not "good", then who are we to call ourselves good? We are far from it. If man is not good at all, there is no possibility of salvation through what he does, only through God's grace and mercy being shone on our absolutely corrupt lives, does the reconciliation of our sins take place. "No one in the flesh can please God" (Romans 8:8)

So, how then do humans have a hope at all of doing truly good deeds or pleasing God if we are absolutely corrupt? I must admit, I had trouble with this question as I was studying it until I stumbled upon Phillipians 2:13, which says:

"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

No man, on his own, and according to his own will can please God. But God can please himself. And if God is working through a man who has faith in God in order to complete his holy will, then the man with faith is not pleasing God, but God through that man and on account of that man is being pleased, therefore that man is credited for his Godly actions which are brought about by God. But without faith in Jesus Christ and God, pleasing Him, and much more, aquiring salvation, is impossible and should not be attempted.