One of the biggest errors in Christianity, and many denominations, is that we somehow earn our way into heaven.

Jesus taught the exact opposite!

If salvation could be earned, then none of us would ever make it.

We’ve all sinned.

We’ve all fallen short of God’s perfect standard.

That’s why Jesus came, He lived the life we could never live and died the death we deserved. On the cross, He paid the price for our sin once and for all.

The Bible says:
“For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, Webster)

Grace means receiving something we could never earn. It’s God’s gift. You don’t work for  gifts or a gift, you simply receive it, and believe it.
“For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, Webster)

So why does the Bible also tell us to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)?

Because there’s a huge difference between working for salvation and working from salvation and it refers to going on to maturity, to the ultimate conclusion of total Christlikeness.

When we place our faith in Jesus, we are saved. From that moment, the Holy Spirit begins changing us from the inside out. Our desire to obey God, love others, turn away from sin and grow in holiness isn’t what saves us.

It’s the evidence that God is already at work in us.

Imagine someone planting Corn, The cobs or kernels don’t make it Corn. The Cobs simply prove what it already is.

In the same way, good works don’t make us Christians. Good works are the fruit of a life that has already been transformed by Christ…. But ever forget many around the world many people do “good works “, but they don’t know Christ, and are not saved….
We are not working to get saved, stay saved, or to stay forgiven, we are doing as Christ commanded and living in grace.

As believers, we don’t obey because we’re terrified of losing salvation every time we fail. We obey because we love the One who saved us. We don’t spend our lives trying to earn God’s love. We live from the security of already being loved through Christ.

Salvation isn’t a reward for good behaviour. It’s a gift purchased by Jesus, and our lives daily should begin to reflect Him more and more…. Not perfectly, because we are human…. but progressively, by the power of the Holy Spirit…

Again, not progressive salvation, but progressive maturity.

In Christ, we are accepted, and from that place of grace, we grow.