I've heard Roman Catholics say it. Here is a quote from a Roman Catholic that I was in a discussion with in regards to salvation:
"Either you do the works which Jesus describes as taking up your cross, or you are not worthy of salvation. You may not want to labour for God nor to "earn" God's benevolent gaze. But, that is your problem."
Amen! We do not earn the gift of eternal life. It is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. NOT BY WORKS.
Amen! Through FAITH, believers are accounted as worthy (Luke 20:35) and accounted as righteous because we believe in Him/trust in Him alone for salvation and not in works (Romans 4:5-6), but not apart from the blood of Christ, worthy and righteous in of ourselves (Romans 3:24-26).
MMD
You have to stop talking to Catholics. They affect your mood too much !
Catholics do believe in some form of merit. No use geetting into it.
They are still saved by God's grace and mercy.
And as far as righteousness, of course we have no righeousness of our own.
We are imputed righteousness by Jesus.
By Him we are made righteous.
RIGHT WITH GOD.
That's all it means.
Please stop talking about Catholics with me. I don't know why you do this.
Leave them alone. That guy you were talking to is saved. Let him work. Who cares. He's saved if he believe in Jesus.
Talk to the ones who NEED SALVATION and do not know Jesus.
This is what I try to do.
PLENTY OF CATHOLICS AROUND HERE...if you know what I mean.