Saved By the Good Things We Do?

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesian 2:8-9 NLT

I was watching a TV show the other day.

It was a show where Barry McGuire, the Jesus Movement musician from the 60's, was being interviewed.

Since I love that music, even today,

I was watching with interest.

It was going great.

Barry was funny and energetic.

Then he said something that horrified me.

Yes. Horrified.

"God has given us a blueprint for happiness and it's the 10 commandments".

"What?

No way Barry. You've got it all wrong!!!"

I yelled, as though he could hear me.

"No! No! No!

The 10 commandments are a blueprint for condemnation!"

Followers of Jesus.

Please read and understand.

Jesus fulfilled the law on the cross.

We are no longer under law.

We are under grace. Romans 6:14

We don't live under performance salvation any longer.

That was the old way.

And it only brought condemnation and death.

Read the next verse. Verse 10.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..."

We are saved to do good works.

We don't do good works to be saved.

"I'll show you my faith by what I do." says James.

Let's take a fresh look at this.

Moses came down from the mountain after

receiving the law and 3,000 people died.

The law is the tree of 'Knowledge of Good and Evil'.

When you partake of it, you die.

Jesus came down from the mountain after fulfilling the law

and 3,000 people were brought to life.

Jesus is the 'Tree of Life'.

When you partake of Him, you live.

Please, please, remember.

The veil was torn from top to bottom so that through Jesus, we have direct access to the Throne of God.

We really need to stop trying to sew the veil back together.

We cannot be saved by works.

We cannot be saved by the law or by anything written under the Old Testament.

If we could, Jesus died for nothing.

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:21 NIV

Jesus wants you and I to know, He is the way, the truth and the life. And no one gets to the Father accept through Him.

Period.

Your good works are NOT the exception.

Our minds need to change from works 'to be saved'

to works 'because I'm saved'.

I have experienced a radical change in my life

since I let Jesus be my Savior.

I quit trying to earn what I already have.

The burden is lifted.

Jesus is the performance that I believe in.

I'm free to love, give and share.

RP