The above is a blasphemous statement. God's justice isn't for sale by performing works of penance, or any meritorious thought we might have. The ONLY method one may obtain salvation is as a gift of grace from God. When we have a purely NON-MERITORIOUS faith in our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, then our faith is identical to that of Christ. When we believe in God through Christ, God's perfect justice is free to give us by grace, salvation from condemnation. Salvation doesn't depend upon our morality. it is dependednt upon God, and our remaining in fellowship with Him by adjusting to His justice by putting o the mind of Christ.
God is perfectly holy. His holiness is comprised of perfect righteousness and perfect justice. Whereever he encounters unrighteousness, His perfect righteousness demands perfect justice.
Whenever we think we are performing good in order to receive favor, we fail to put on the mind of Christ. Gospel and our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus have provided a method by which we may understand, namely through faith in God, which is non-meritorious and is frequently manifest in our works.
Kolokotronis in 14 also noted, correctly, that the choice of words is not the best, as we associate merit with an exchange transaction, when salvation obviously is not. However, here "merit" is clearly put in the context of lifelong faith and charitable works; the sovereignty of God in granting salvation is clearly stated. The statement is consistent with what the Church has always taught, that robust faith and works of charity are necessary for salvation.
We do good works in faith, not to buy our way into heaven. Faith without works is a dead faith.
"faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26)