The Apostle Paul declared in Ephesians 2:8-10, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Clearly, salvation as presented in the Bible is a gift. It is not something for which we can work in order to earn it. Nor is it something for which you can pay. Never will you be able to merit it. Remember, we are all like sheep who have gone astray by going our own way (Isaiah 53:6). All of us have sinned (Romans 3:23). As sinners, we are incapable of measuring up to what alone would be acceptable to a holy God.
Salvation is the gift of God. It’s a gift of inestimable value. As unworthy as we are, we have the privilege and opportunity to experience it when we receive it as a gift by faith. There is no room or ground for boasting on our part. God will not share His glory with anyone.
In simple, humble faith we must reach out and receive all that God has graciously done for us. When we do, we are saved. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
Once saved God begins to work in our lives, creating us in Christ Jesus to do good works. Submitting ourselves to Him as pliable clay so He can make us into what He desires is what Christianity is all about.
