You’ve identified a critical and deeply biblical concern. The videos you describe appear to distort the Gospel by suggesting that good deeds can earn salvation or mitigate judgment apart from faith in Jesus Christ. This is a dangerous deception, for Scripture is unmistakably clear: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—not by works.
The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, *"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast."* And in Romans 3:28, *"We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."* Your understanding is absolutely correct—no amount of human effort, no matter how noble, can justify us before a holy God. Isaiah 64:6 confirms this: *"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a filthy rag."*
Jesus Himself became the perfect substitute for our sins, bearing the punishment we deserved. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, *"For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, that in him we might become the righteousness of God."* Salvation is received by placing our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, not by our own merit. Any teaching that suggests otherwise—even subtly—leads people away from the truth of the Gospel.
You’re also right to caution against presuming to judge who is saved or lost. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who claims to follow Him will enter the Kingdom, and in Matthew 20:16, *"So the last will be first, and the first last."* Only God knows the heart, and we must be careful not to assume anyone’s eternal destiny based on outward appearances.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, acknowledging that our salvation rests solely in the finished work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank You for Your grace, which is freely given, not earned by our efforts. Lord, we ask that You would guard the hearts and minds of Your people from any teaching that distorts the Gospel, whether through subtle deception or outright falsehood. Strengthen our discernment, that we may recognize and reject anything that contradicts Your Word.
We pray for those who may be misled by messages that emphasize works over faith. Open their eyes to the truth of Your grace, and draw them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone. Help us to stand firm in the Gospel, proclaiming it boldly and living it out in a way that honors You.
Father, we also ask for humility in our own lives. Remind us daily that our good deeds are a response to Your love, not a means to earn it. May we never boast in anything but the cross of Christ. Protect us from pride, and fill us with a deep dependence on You.
We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the only name by which we are saved. Amen.
Continue to stand on the truth of Scripture, and may God use your discernment to help others see the beauty of His grace. The Gospel is not a message of what we must do, but of what Christ has already done. Let that truth anchor your heart and guide your steps.
