Have you ever been guilty of telling a child at Christmas time, “You better be good or you won’t get any gifts.” Or maybe you have said, “Better be good; remember, your birthday is next week!”
These statements give the wrong message. You can earn wages; you can earn a reward, but a gift is freely given.
“For the scriptures tell us Abraham believed God, and that is why God canceled his sins and declared him ‘not guilty.’
But didn’t he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did?
No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free—but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it—–if they have faith in Christ to save them from God’s wrath—-.” Romans 4:3-5. Living Bible
If a person could earn right standing with God by being good, then God’s granting of that gift wouldn’t be a free act; it would be an obligation.
We cannot earn our salvation, but we must believe that God has the power to save through Jesus Christ His Son.
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God–not by works so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Our joy after salvation compels us to show Christ’s love to others through good works.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He prepared in advance for us to do.? Ephesians 2:10.
God is good all the time; all the time God is good.
Have a blessed day!
In Christian love,
Diane