God’s precious gift is by faith
You Can’t Earn It – Salvation Is a Gift
Imagine being given the most valuable gift you could ever imagine. One so precious and priceless, that you could never afford it on your own. That’s exactly what heaven is, a gift from God.
No amount of good deeds, church attendance, or moral living can make us “good enough” to earn our way to heaven. Why? Because salvation isn’t about what we do, it’s about what Jesus has already done.
Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, Christ paid the price we could never pay. He bore our sins and gave us His righteousness. All we are called to do is repent of our sins and put our faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls. Repentance and faith is what God is seeking from you, because your works will never be good enough, and will always be tainted by sin.
This foundational truth is perfectly captured in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV):
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Let’s unpack this amazing truth.
Salvation is by God’s Grace Alone
At the heart of Ephesians 2:8-9 is the doctrine of grace, a central pillar of the Christian faith. Grace, by its very nature, is unmerited favor. It is God’s free and undeserved kindness toward sinners who deserve nothing but wrath.
The apostle Paul is clear: “This is not of yourselves.” Salvation is not a reward for moral achievements or religious zeal. In fact, earlier in this chapter, Paul describes our natural condition:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (Ephesians 2:1, NKJV).
Dead people cannot save themselves. Just as a lifeless body is incapable of movement, so too are we spiritually powerless apart from the supernatural work of God.
Salvation is by Faith
Paul goes on to say that we are saved “through faith.” Faith is the instrument by which we lay hold of Christ’s finished work. It is the open hand that receives the gift of salvation. Faith is not a ‘work’ we can take credit for. The bible teaches us something very important about faith: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Not By Works, So That No One May Boast
Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:9 strike at the heart of human pride: “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” If salvation could be earned through our efforts, we would have reason to boast in ourselves rather than glorify God. But Scripture consistently teaches that God will not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42:8).
The danger of relying on works is that it shifts the focus from Christ to self. Instead of resting in what Jesus has accomplished, we start measuring our spiritual performance and comparing ourselves to others. This leads to either pride or despair—both of which are deadly to the soul.
Consider the words of Titus 3:5 (NKJV):
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
The consistent testimony of Scripture is that salvation is a divine act of mercy, not a human achievement.
Christ’s Work is Sufficient
The doctrine of salvation by grace alone points us to the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. When Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30, ESV), He meant it. The debt of sin was fully paid, and nothing more needs to be added.
As the hymn so beautifully says:
“Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”
Our salvation rests entirely on what Christ has done, not on what we do. This is why the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to “cease from [our] works, as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:10, NKJV), and instead to enter into the rest that God provides.
Living in the Freedom of Grace
Understanding that salvation cannot be earned doesn’t lead to laziness or indifference—it leads to freedom and gratitude. When we grasp the enormity of God’s grace, our response is joyful obedience, not as a means of earning His favor, but as an act of love and thanksgiving.
As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10 (ESV):
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the root. They flow naturally from a heart transformed by grace, motivated by a desire to glorify God.
I don’t want you think that I’m just cherry picking a single verse. Please check out these other verses from the New Testament.
Romans 3:28
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
This verse encapsulates Paul’s argument that justification—being declared righteous before God—is entirely by faith, not by adhering to the works of the Mosaic law. It underscores that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through trusting in Christ, not earned by human effort or legalistic observance. Paul’s conclusion assures believers that their righteousness is based on Christ’s merit, not their own.
Galatians 2:16
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Paul makes a clear distinction between the law and faith in this verse. He emphasizes that no one can earn salvation through their obedience to the law because human efforts are tainted by sin. Justification comes only through faith in Christ’s perfect work. This truth confronts the error of relying on human righteousness and redirects us to depend wholly on Jesus.
Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Here, Paul highlights the source of our salvation: God’s mercy. It is not human deeds or moral accomplishments that save us but God’s sovereign grace. Salvation involves a transformation through the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts and brings spiritual life. This verse is a wonderful reminder that salvation is entirely the work of God..
Philippians 3:9
“And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”
Paul expresses his desire to be united with Christ, possessing a righteousness that comes not from his own efforts but as a gift from God through faith. This verse contrasts self-righteousness with the imputed righteousness of Christ, which believers receive through faith. It reminds us that true righteousness is not achieved but received.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
This well-known verse emphasizes the love of God as the motivation for salvation and the simplicity of its means: belief in Jesus. Eternal life is a gift to all who place their trust in Christ, and it is grounded in God’s grace, not human effort. It reassures us that faith alone is the key to eternal life.
John 5:24
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will escape judgment and experience eternal life. This verse highlights the immediacy of salvation—it is a present reality for those who trust in Him. Belief transfers a person from spiritual death to eternal life, bypassing condemnation altogether.
Acts 16:31
“So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'”
In response to the Philippian jailer’s question about salvation, Paul and Silas give a straightforward answer: faith in Jesus Christ. This verse underscores the simplicity and sufficiency of belief in Christ as the sole requirement for salvation. It also suggests the transformative impact that faith can have on entire families.
Romans 4:5
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
Paul teaches that salvation is not earned by works but is given freely to those who trust in God. Faith is “credited” as righteousness, meaning God regards believers as righteous because of Christ’s work. This verse is a powerful declaration of God’s grace, showing that even the ungodly are justified by faith.
2 Timothy 1:9
“Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
Paul reminds Timothy that salvation is rooted in God’s eternal plan and grace, not human effort. This verse underscores God’s sovereignty in salvation, as He saved and called believers according to His purpose before the foundation of the world. It’s a comforting assurance that salvation is entirely God’s doing.
Romans 10:9-10
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
This passage teaches that salvation involves both faith and confession. Genuine belief in the resurrection of Jesus leads to righteousness, and openly confessing Him as Lord affirms one’s faith. It emphasizes the importance of both internal trust and external acknowledgment of Christ as Savior.
And not only is this clear teaching found in the New Testament, it is ALSO found in the Old Testament
Habakkuk 2:4
“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”
This verse contrasts the prideful reliance on self with humble trust in God. The proud are spiritually corrupt, relying on their own strength and wisdom, but the righteous live by faith, trusting in God’s promises and provision. This foundational truth is echoed in the New Testament and reveals that faith has always been the means by which God’s people receive His righteousness.
Genesis 15:6
“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
This verse highlights Abraham’s faith in God’s promise, which was credited to him as righteousness. Abraham’s belief was not a work but a trust in God’s ability to fulfill what He had spoken. It establishes the principle that salvation and righteousness are gifts received through faith, not earned by human effort.
Psalm 32:1-2
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
David rejoices in the blessing of forgiveness, which comes not through works but through God’s mercy and grace. The “covering” of sin points to God’s provision for atonement, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. This passage teaches that God credits righteousness to those who come to Him in faith, not those who rely on their works
Isaiah 53:5-6
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah prophesies the atoning work of the Messiah, who would bear the punishment for humanity’s sin. Salvation and healing come through faith in His sacrifice, not through human effort. This points forward to Christ, the ultimate substitute for our sin.
Jeremiah 17:7
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”
Jeremiah contrasts those who trust in human strength with those who place their confidence in God. This verse affirms that blessing and spiritual life flow from faith in God, who is the source of all hope and salvation. It highlights the futility of self-reliance and the sufficiency of God’s grace.
Isaiah 64:6
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Isaiah emphasizes the inability of human works to earn righteousness before a holy God. Even the best efforts of fallen humanity are tainted by sin and insufficient to meet God’s perfect standard. This verse points to the need for God’s grace and imputed righteousness, received through faith.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
God promises to transform His people by giving them new hearts and His Spirit. This new covenant highlights that true obedience flows from God’s work within us, not from human effort alone. It foreshadows the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.
Micah 7:18-19
“Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Micah marvels at God’s mercy and His willingness to forgive sin completely. Salvation is grounded in God’s compassion and grace, not in the works or worthiness of His people. This verse assures believers of God’s willingness to forgive and cleanse those who trust in Him.
Jonah 2:9
“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.”
Jonah acknowledges that salvation belongs to God alone. This declaration underscores that deliverance, whether physical or spiritual, is entirely God’s work. It highlights the futility of human effort and the need for reliance on God’s grace.
A Call to Rest in God’s Grace
My dear friend, if you’ve been striving to earn God’s approval, hear this: you are already loved more deeply than you can imagine. Salvation is not a reward for your efforts but a gift from the hands of a loving and sovereign God.
Rest in His grace. Trust in His finished work. Let go of the exhausting burden of trying to earn what has already been freely given. And as you do, may you find the peace and joy that come from knowing that your salvation is secure—not because of anything you have done, but because of everything Christ has done for you.
Let us rejoice with the apostle Paul:
“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, ESV).