Life Notes

Works & Grace
By Tim Russ

(Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.

We learn from the time of our childhood that if we do things we can get the attention of others and receive praise. Who has not picked a flower for their mother to receive the smile of adoration? Often we continue this worthy practice through our lives but sometimes we confuse the good act with the requirements of love.

The question of good works (deeds or actions) verses grace (an unmerited gift) is one that fills the Christian church with controversy. It is so interwoven into Christian beliefs that it is almost like the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.

Do we receive salvation because we do good things or do we do good things because we received salvation? Can a Christian avoid doing good things and still be a Christian? Can we do enough good things in order to qualify for heaven? Is there some heavenly score keeper that tallies all the good things we do in our life?

God knew that this would be a confusing question for us so he clarified it in his word. There is only one way to become a Christian. We become a Christian by believing in the work that Jesus performed on the cross. Jesus was pure. He was the only human being that ever lived that did not commit sin. Yet, this sinless, innocent man offered his life in a torturous death in order to exchange places with us.

Each of us has broken one or more of the ten commandments. The bible says that it only takes the breaking of one commandment to be sent into eternal punishment. None of us deserve to go to heaven. Yet, Jesus took our place. He died and went to hell for us.

Those of us who believe that and follow through with a heartfelt repentance and change of lifestyle become Christians. We change places with Jesus. We exchange the death we deserve for the life he has offered. We exchange our sinfulness for his righteousness.

Yet, there are those who don’t understand this bible principle or feel that it cannot be that simple. They feel that they should be busy doing good things to please God. They are like the people who rush up to stopped cars to clean the windows without being asked. When they are finished they demand payment. Their deeds are good and most of them are done with good intentions but they have failed to follow the first step. They fail to ask God into their lives before working in his name.

Take a moment and ask God into your life because you believe that what he did allows us the opportunity to become a Christian.

(John 6:29 NIV) Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Copyright © 2010 Tim Russ.  All rights reserved.