NOT BY WORKS

Rom 9:31-32
31 But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. NLT
** No matter how hard we try to please God by doing good things, it will never measure up to Jesus’ death on the cross. He paid the price in full and I find many people out there trying to do good things to atone for their sins. You can’t do enough good to pay for the short comings of fallen man. Most people when asked why they should make it to heaven answer, “Because I was a good person.” If this was the grounds for salvation then we are not on a level playing field. Those with physical defects could never measure up to those with great physical abilities. Saying salvation is by works or good works would be like saying that you can buy your way into heaven. Only the rich would be able to make it in and therefore only the physically healthy people would be only the ones who get into heaven. Thank God He saved us by GRACE. The definition of grace is “un-earned or un-merited favor.” Which means you can’t earn it nor do you deserve it! Romans chapter 5 says “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is so simple a message that man has a hard time accepting it. It’s in our nature…. Have you ever got a un-earned gift from a person? Or how about a Christmas gift from someone whom you were not going to get a gift for? It makes you want to run out and buy a gift because you JUST CAN’T ACCEPT A FREE GIFT without paying something back. NOW, let’s put this into perspective. I can’t earn salvation by my works BUT I can be thankful enough for the FREE gift of God that I want to dedicate my life doing good things for Him because of what He has done for me. Is this scriptural? I’m glad you asked:
Eph 2:7-10 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV

Pastor Dave