January 17, 2016

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Let’s suppose out of the blue one day, someone gave you the keys to a brand new car. Now this isn’t just any car, it’s a brand new red sports car with leather seats and every amenity you could imagine.

So you reach into your pocket and say, “Let me help you pay for this.” And you pull out a dime, lay it on the table, and say, “There you go.” Then, you get into your car and begin driving down the road, when someone pulls up next to you and says, “Nice car!” To which you reply, “Thanks. I paid for it myself!”

Now that’s ludicrous, of course. But it’s not nearly as ludicrous as thinking that somehow the gift of salvation is purchased by anything that you or I could do. Your works make absolutely no difference in terms of your eternal salvation. When you stand before God, you’re not going to say, “Look what I did! I made it!”

Salvation is the work of Christ alone. Yes, you and I do good works in response to this gift, but it never adds to the amount of salvation we have. So remember that neither your good works nor your bad ones can impact your status in Christ. If you’ve trusted Him, you’re His forever!

SALVATION ISN’T ACHIEVED BY ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. IT’S ONLY WHAT CHRIST CAN DO. SO REMEMBER THAT IF YOU’VE TRULY TRUSTED HIM, YOU’RE HIS FOREVER!