Protestants deny that good works can be meritorious (i.e., rewarded by God), but St. Augustine taught that our merit was merely God “crowning his own gifts.” That’s what the Catholic Church teaches. The good in the merit doesn’t ultimately come from us (it’s not self-generated); it’s derived from God, giving us the grace to do any good thing (Psalm 51:7, 10; 84:11). But we can and should willingly participate and do what he wants us to do, and God rewards that.
Here is the biblical data upon which our doctrine of merit is established (RSV):
Genesis 18:19. I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.
Genesis 22:16-17. … because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
1 Samuel 26:23. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness . . .
2 Samuel 22:21. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness … (cf. 22:22-25; Psalm 18:20-23)
1 Kings 3:11-14. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind. … I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Psalm 106:30-31. Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, and the plague was stayed. And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.
Isaiah 59:18. According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies …
Jeremiah 31:16. … your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD …
Jeremiah 32:19. … rewarding every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings …
Matthew 6:3-4, 6, 17-18. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. … (cf. 6:6, 17-18)
Matthew 10:42. “And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Luke 14:13-14. “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Romans 15:17-18. … In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed …
1 Corinthians 3:6-9. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers … (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:1; Ephesians 2:10)
1 Corinthians 15:10. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.
2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.
Galatians 6:7, 9. … whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. … And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.
Ephesians 6:8. … knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same again from the Lord …
Philippians 2:13. For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Hebrews 13:16)
Philippians 4:18. … I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (cf. Colossians 1:10; 3:20)
2 Timothy 2:15, 21. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, … If anyone purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.
2 Timothy 4:7-8. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day …
2 John 1:8. Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward.
1 John 3:22. … and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
