er, in order to be saved by
it, must be the best he can make it, no one has even that
character,--no one's character is the best he could have made it.
Hence, salvation by character is a chimera.

The third charge against salvation by character is, that even if a
man's character were perfect from man's standpoint, in the sight of
God his character would still be corrupt. "All our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags."--Is. 64:6. Why? Because motive is the measure of the
character. "They that are in the flesh cannot please God."--Rom. 8:8.
Why? Because they have not, and cannot have, the right motive. "Though
I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am
become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and
though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have
not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it
profiteth me nothing."--1 Cor. 13:1-3. And no man has this love, no
man can have this love, until he is saved by Christ dying for his
sins (1 Cor. 15:3). "The love of Christ constraineth us; because we
thus judge, that if one died for all, then all died; and he died for
all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him who died for them, and rose again."--2 Cor. 5:14, 15.

The fourth serious, fatal charge against the theory of salvation by
character is that it is contrary to the teaching of the Saviour.
"Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and
the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."--Matt. 21:31.
Certain it is that the publicans and the harlots had worse characters
than those to whom the Saviour was speaking; the fact is therefore
evident that Jesus taught salvation without character, irrespective of
character.

Let the reader consider two cases that will show conclusively that the
teaching of salvation by character is absolutely contrary to the
teaching of the Saviour. "The chief priest, mocking him, with the
scribes and elders, said: He saved others; himself he cannot save. If
he is the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we
will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he
will have him; for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also that
were with him, cast the same in his teeth."--Matt.