Why is it dangerous to rely on personal works for salvation?
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Relying on personal works is dangerous because, as Romans 3:20 states, no flesh will be justified by the deeds of the law.
The reliance on personal works for salvation is fundamentally flawed as it undermines the doctrine of total depravity and the necessity of grace. Romans 3:20 clarifies that by the deeds of the law, no one will be justified in God's sight. Man by nature tends to inflate his righteousness, believing that good works can secure his standing before God. However, Scripture teaches that all our attempts at righteousness are like filthy rags compared to God's standard of holiness. The law serves to reveal our sinfulness and point us towards Christ, who is our only hope. Thus, any attempt to add works to grace constitutes a refuge of lies, leading to spiritual ruin.
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