It is likewise false and untrue, that a man can become righteous and pious before God by his own works and by external piety.
It is unfounded and false, that human reason is able of itself to love God above all things, to keep his commandments, to fear him, to be assured that he hears our prayers, to thank and obey him in afflictions, and in other things enjoined in his law, such as, not to covet the goods of others, &c. For all this, human reason is not able to accomplish, although it can in some degree produce an honorable life externally, and perform good works.
To say that those are without sin, who keep God’s commandments externally only, without the Spirit and grace in their hearts, is also untrue and deceptive, and a blasphemy against Christ.
This conclusion is attested, not only by the holy Scriptures, but also by the ancient Fathers. Augustine treats of this subject largely, in contending against the Pelagians, that grace is not given on account of our own merits. And in his book on Nature and Grace, (de Natura et Gratia,) he says: “If our natural strength is sufficient, by freewill, both to teach us how to live, and how to live aright, then Christ died in vain.”
Why should I not here exclaim with Paul, Gal. 5:4, Rom. 10:3–4? yea, I may justly exclaim with him: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law: ye are fallen from grace.” “For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” For as Christ is the end of the law, so also is Christ the saviour of corrupted nature. Again, John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Therefore we cannot become free from our sins, or merit their remission, through reason or good works. Again, it is written, John 3:5: “Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (Henkel Translation, p. 162).