Ephesians 2:8-9 AMPC
For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; [9] Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
As fallen humans, don't we love to take pride in our own perceived goodness?!
Someone recently remarked how they couldn't stand a Christian who regularly visited a local pub, telling the patrons that they couldn't get to heaven by good works.
That person was offended by the gospel truth that no one is good enough to work their way into God's good books.
Even the best of us is undeserving!
No one likes to hear that they are inherently sinful. It cuts deeply into our pride.
We look around, comparing ourselves to others, and think we are better than "so and so" or equally as good as any other human.
This may be so, but there is a huge BUT....
Can you be good enough for God?
Can you keep the 10 Commandments?
Most of us fall at the first hurdle:
Exodus 20:3 AMPC
You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.
Break one command and you and I break them all.
Like dominoes falling one on top of another - that first command is a trigger for breaking every single one.
We need a Saviour and God graciously supplied One - our precious Messiah, Jesus.
He is our Sin-Bearer - we are saved by Him alone.
It is totally and utterly undeserved.
All we can do is bow at His Feet in thanks and adoration.
Let's start the day on that wonderful note.
Selah
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