How do you approach someone who trusts in good works to get to heaven?

This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘God’s Power for Salvation’ (2005).

Well, if somebody is trusting good works to get to heaven, I should take them straight to passages such as Romans 3, 4 and 5; and Titus 3; and Ephesians 2. I would point out the constant witness of the New Testament that there is a salvation that does not depend on works; it is a gift. And then I would point to the underlying things, to why it has to be a gift and not works. It is because God's final evaluation of our works is that we have sinned in the past and do still come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

That is God's estimation of our works. And that is where you often find it difficult with people who trust in good works to get to heaven. They are not prepared for that radical repentance that we met in Romans 3. They will agree that they have done some things wrong, like lying or stealing or something or other; but that their sins are such that they stand with their mouth shut before God under the penalty of the law and cannot save themselves, that they are not prepared to admit. And if they are not prepared to admit that, there is no salvation anyway. For the terms of salvation are: 'repentance towards God', that is, accepting God's verdict, and 'faith in the Lord Jesus' (see Acts 20:21). That is very important.