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SALVATION
Grace or Works?
INTRODUCTION
Nothing is more important than the question of how one can be saved. The issue of salvation is a matter of greatest importance because it deals with our eternal destiny.
All of the world’s religions except Christianity teach that salvation can be obtained by following certain steps or doing good works. The Christian faith, on the other hand, recognizes that salvation can never be earned by works, but can only be received by grace. To further enlighten us in this most important matter, we need to address some other related questions regarding salvation.
WHY DO l NEED TO BE SAVED?
The Bible clearly tells us that all have sinned against God. We were all born with sin and our hearts are inclined to sin.
ROMANS 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Because God is holy, our sin separates us from Him.
Because God is just, our sin has a penalty which is death or eternal separation from Him.
ROMANS 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sin will cause us to be separated from God not only in this life but in eternity. Because all have sinned, all need to be saved from its penalty.
WHO CAN SAVE ME?
Because God is loving, he made a way for us to be saved by sending His Son Jesus who was sinless, and thus, the only One qualified to save us. His sacrifice on the cross became the perfect and complete payment for our sin.
ROMANS 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 JOHN 3:5
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
It is only through Jesus that we can be saved. Jesus has already dealt with the problem of sin through his death and resurrection. No one else and no other work can ever exceed or even equal what Jesus did on the cross for our salvation. He is the only Savior.
ACTS 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
JOHN 14:6
Jesus answered, “l’am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ”
HOW CAN I BE SAVED?
Jesus did all the work for our salvation. God is offering us the salvation He worked for as a gift. As a gift, we need not pay for it. It has already been paid for by the blood of Christ.
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
For 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.
What we need to do is to receive the salvation God offers through faith. This faith means placing our complete trust on Jesus to be our Savior. This faith also means turning our life over to Jesus to follow Him as our Lord.
ROMANS 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord, ” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
CONCLUSION
Salvation is by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone.
Because it is by grace alone, we cannot work for our salvation. Because it is in Christ alone, Jesus is the only one who can save us. Because it is through faith alone, we need to put our trust on Jesus as our Savior and commit our life to Him as our Lord.
QUESTIONS:
Have you decided to trust Jesus fully for your salvation instead of earning it through good works?
Have you decided to turn away from sinful living and receive Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?
A SlNNER’S PRAYER:
Father God, l admit that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. I thank You for your grace for someone like me. I believe in Jesus Your Son, whom You sent to die on the cross for my sins. Lord Jesus, l surrender my life to you as my Lord and Savior.
Thank you for the gift of salvation. Holy Spirit, come into my life. Help me live my new life in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
