Because of God’s indescribable loves for us, Jesus came to earth on a rescue mission. He was crucified on a cross to make provision for us to live eternally in heaven with Him. Did he come to reveal a path for us to work our way into heaven? No, scripture tells us if it were possible to become righteous in God’s site through our own efforts, then there was no need for Jesus to come and die on the cross (Galatians 2:21). Further, it says salvation is made possible only as a free gift by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus, and not by our own works, therefore we have nothing to boast about (Ephesians 2: 8-9). When we depend on our own good deeds, our faith is centered in our own merits and not on the merits of Jesus, and we thereby reject the sufficiency of his sacrifice on the cross. Grace is a favor we receive even though it is not deserved, so if salvation comes through grace, then it follows it is not earned or deserved. Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy.” God desires good deeds, but they are rightfully motivated by our gratitude to Him for what He has done for us, not on getting something in return from Him.
Why is God’s grace so necessary? We are told that it is our sin that alienates us from God (Romans 3:23), not our lack of good works. There is nothing we can do that can undo our sin, it has already happened. God is perfectly Holy, He hates sin, and is at war with sin, no matter how minor it may seem to us, because sin is the antithesis of God’s perfect Holiness. Therefore, for us to live with God eternally we must be free of sin. God is also perfectly just and therefore must hold us accountable and punish our sin against Him, just as any civil court must punish violators of the civil law. The punishment for sin is described as eternal death (hell), (Rom 6:23). Without God’s grace, we stand doomed and hopeless. God is also perfect in His love, so Jesus came to provide a way to remove our sin problem by dying for us, in our place. He took the punishment for our sin upon himself, even though we didn’t deserve it (grace), thereby removing our sin and guilt. Having our sins wiped out and forgiven through Jesus, we become sinless in God’s eyes and free to enter into His presence for all eternity.
So, how do we access God’s grace and receive his forgiveness? Jesus was asked this question in John 6:28-29 in a similar conversation as he had with the Woman at the Well. Jesus first told his listeners, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you.” They in turn asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (Jesus) Belief in Jesus is often expressed in scripture as placing our trust in Him. We might have an intellectual belief that Jesus existed, or even understand that the purpose of his sacrifice on the cross was to save people from their sin, but applying those truths personally by actually placing our faith and trust in him to forgive us for our own personal sin is what the gospel (good news) message of the New Testament is about. I might believe in a skilled tight rope walker’s claim that he could carry someone in a wheelbarrow across the Niagara Falls, but my getting into that wheelbarrow and asking him to carry me across the falls is a totally different level of belief that confirms my confidence that he is capable to do what he claims, and confirms my trust in him to do what he says he can do. Similarly, saving faith is putting our trust in Jesus to do what he says he will do. This is not blind faith, it is founded upon the promise of God, who cannot lie, to give eternal life to all who believe and place their trust in Him. Therefore, we can confidently accept his offer. We come empty handed, and receive forgiveness by accepting God’s grace through our belief and faith in Jesus alone. He takes our sin, and in exchange He gives us eternal life. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
If this biblical explanation of salvation makes sense to you, I hope you will feel moved to express your faith and trust to God through a simple prayer, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and to give you eternal life as He promised in Romans 10:12-13. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
After receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it doesn’t mean we are perfect and will never sin again, but our goal is certainly to honor him with our lives. Thankfully, Jesus now stands as our advocate before God. 1 John 2:1 – “My dear children, I write to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.”
Hebrews 7:25 – “Therefore he (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Following are some scriptures that offer believers assurance of their eternal salvation:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14
(Jesus speaking) “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-28
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