I think we occasionally fall into the trap of thinking that we are doing God a favor when we do good. So much so that we might even think that God owes us. For example, we might say ‘I’ve been a good person, so I think God will let me into heaven’. This implies that God owes you something for what you’ve done. The good news, and this is good news, is that this is simply incorrect. Let me explain
Imagine that you are a principal in a school and one aspect of your job is determining who will graduate, and then giving them their diploma. Now further imagine that there is a student in the school, who not only passed every test but scores the highest possible grade, an A+. Now, when it comes to commencement, will you be doing the student a favor by giving them a diploma? No, they earned it and you would only be doing what was right. Actually it would be unjust for you not to graduate the student. The student is worthy of the diploma and your recognition.
In a similar way, God is worthy. God has done all the work and He allows us to participate in the honor ceremony. It is only right that we honor Him. Honoring him doesn’t make us worthy, but it allows us to participate in His worthiness!
“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will you say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t you rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me, while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will you thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'” – Luke 17:7-10
The above scripture is hard to understand in our culture, partially because we no longer have servants. Thinking again of the principal example, we must understand that God is worthy and by providing him the honor and service he deserves, we are simply handing out a well earned diploma.
Westchester Men's Ministry 
@” For example, we might say ‘I’ve been a good person, so I think God will let me into heaven’”
————————————————————————————-
yes. absolutely true.
it seems that it has been hammered into our subconcious since childhood. Our parents would say “be a good boy and I’ll buy you this”
our minds has been trained in “do good get good, do bad get bad” scheme.
when we do bad, we expect God to punish us. but then we are somewhat surprise to find God blessing us more inspite of our failure! then we are led to repentance. because of God’s kindness.
we have to repent from this kind of thinking. Repentance which means “changing of mind”.
justification is by faith in Christ. we have no part.
– grace and peace
SavedByGrace, Amen! Thank you very much for the comment!
Martyr’s don’t seem to care about themselves. They don’t want credit for giving the credit to God.
the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”[
I agree John. I think as we grow in Christian maturity, we grow closer to God and we see more and more of his holiness and our sinfulness. Which leads to statements like ‘you alone are holy…’