[CynicalBear]

Ok, so of your own volition you can merit part of your salvation. That’s an amazing admission. Whether you admit it or not that is what works based salvation is.

[paladinan]

"Merit", yes. "Earn", no. Merit refers to a grace given by God which is contingent on obeying His Will in some manner... and it has nothing, whatsoever, to do with our initial justification/salvation. Any idea of "works-based salvation" is Pelagianism, and it is entirely contained in the creative imagination of the one imagining it.