https://odb.org/2024/05/10/trying-to-save-ourselves
A fundamental tenet of our Christian faith is that salvation is by grace, the grace of God through faith as a gift from God, not by works – as expounded by Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9. In verse 10, Paul continues that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.
This is in sharp contrast to the weighing scale method of good deeds versus bad, propagated by other faiths where an evaluation is performed on judgment day to determine salvation or damnation. Although logical on the face of it, its inherent weakness is that its practitioners may commit even atrocities and still be saved if they have done enough to atone for their sins.
The Christian’s view, however, is akin to that of a man caught in a quicksand. There is nothing that man can do to avoid drowning as the more he moves, the deeper he sinks. We all know that only someone above and beyond the quicksand can save that drowning man, whether to throw a tree branch or a rope. In this context, God, in His love for mankind and His grace, sent His only Son to be that rope to pull mankind out from the downward spiral of eternal damnation.
Ephesians 2:10, as taught by Paul, is key to understanding justification by faith. Once saved, we are primed to do good works, as the same has already been prepared in advance by God for us. It’s not a combination of good and bad deeds on a scale, but only good works.
Thus, in Romans 12:1-2, Paul teaches that, in view of God’s mercy, we are to become a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. We should no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we may test and approve the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
By His grace, God has saved us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The death and resurrection of Christ have reconciled us to God and place us on the trajectory to eternal life, the narrow path of “right side up living” in an upside down world. Strive on and persevere towards the goal God has prepared us in Christ Jesus. Don’t give up. When the going gets tough, the redeemed of Christ gets going!
Ronnie's Thoughts 