Lord's Day 24

62. Q. Why can't the good we do make us right with God, or at least help make us right with Him?
A. Because the righteousness which can pass God's scrutiny must be entirely perfect and must in every way measure up to the divine law. Even the very best we do in this life is imperfect and stained with sin.

63. Q. How can you say that the good we do doesn't earn anything when God promises to reward in this life and the next?
A. This reward is not earned; it is a gift of grace.

64. Q. But doesn't this teaching make people indifferent and wicked?
A. No. It is impossible for those grafted into Christ by true faith to not produce fruits of gratitude.

"So what do we do with our unworthiness? Other religions say meditate toward enlightenment or pray so many times a day, or overcome your cravings. The answer Christianity gives is wholly different and somewhat shocking. We do nothing with all our unworthiness. We do nothing to undo our bad doings because we have nothing to contribute but more sin (Isa. 64:6). The reward of eternal life is not a wage we earn but a gift we receive."

The Good News We Almost Forgot, Kevin DeYoung, Moody Publishers, 2010, pp. 118, 120-121.