Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us… – Titus 3:5

Have you an imagination that your own merits may make atonement for sin? I pray you think what Christ had to do before He could cast sin off from Himself, what griefs He bore, through what an ocean of wrath He passed; and do you think that your poor merits, if they be merits, can ever avail to do what the Savior suffered so much to accomplish? Do you hope to escape without a punishment? If you do, let me pray you to think the matter over; for if God smote His own Son, do you think He will permit you to go scot-free? …Sinner, bow the knee to this plan of salvation, for be it known to you -and I speak now, knowing what I say, and coolly too-there is none other plan of salvation under heaven. There may be other ways of salvation preached, but other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, Jesus Christ the Righteous…If thou shalt be going about to establish thine own righteousness, but not submitting thyself to the righteousness of Christ, thou shalt perish. But let me ask thee, does not this plan commend itself to thee? If I trust Jesus, this is to me the evidence that He took my sins and suffered in my stead. Oh, the joy it gives me! I speak to you honestly of my own experience now; there is no doctrine that fires my soul with such delight as that of substitution…when I know that Christ was literally and positively, not metaphorically and by way of figure, but literally and positively the substitute for His own people, and when I know that trusting in Him I have the evidence of being one of His people, why my soul begins to say, Now let me live! I’m clean, through Jesus’ blood I’m clean. Now let me die! for I shall boldly stand in the day of resurrection, through Jesus, my Lord. Why, soul, it seems to me as if it were enough to make you leap into the arms of Christ, crucified! covered with blood for you! disinterestedly suffering for His own enemies that they might live! Oh, stay not away! ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0694.cfm