Page 73 - Ephesians

#2 It has to in some way advantage, or profit the person you are
getting the merit from. Let me illustrate. If it doesn’t advantage
God, then it can’t be merit.

Now watch. Because the idea of meriting with God is not only
pride, but blasphemy. Think of it. You can never do anything
that adds to Him. There’s no reason why an angel, who is strong
enough to move a world, should merit any more than a worm that
crawls upon the earth. Remember Jesus’ words,

“When you shall have done all that is commanded you, then
say, we are unprofitable servants, we have only done what
was required.”

God is the creator. And to the One Who created us we are duty
bound. We are to love Him with every ounce of strength He put in
us. We are duty bound to worship, adore, praise and serve Him.
And even if you did that perfectly, you still haven’t gone beyond
what is required.

The angels in heaven have no merit. If you were to go to heaven
and suggest that an angel deserves to be there, he would accuse
you of treason and blasphemy. He’d say, “God made us this way,
we owe it to Him as our Creator.” If I’m going to merit, I have to
find something I can give to God. Something He didn’t make.
Good luck on that one. It’s impossible. You’ve got to give Him
something that didn’t first come from Him. You’d have to find a
block of time that you can call your own, that He didn’t give you.

If I owe Tom $10 and then give him $10 saying, “Here’s a
donation”. He would say, “I’m sorry, that’s not a donation. That’s
a debt.” Until your debt is paid, a donation can’t begin. Creature
merit is impossible. But God comes and says “I have a salvation
to give you. It’s My gift. No merit is possible, lest any man should
boast.” So, Who gets the glory? Who gets the praise?