My title for this devotion is Do vs Done.
One of the hardest things-I think-for many to grasp is the relative “ease” to obtain salvation. There is in many of us this feeling like salvation can’t be that easy; there has to be something I must do. So we get into this whole works and earning my way into salvation. We find ourselves in a game we play of “If I do this, this and this then I will be more acceptable to God.”
But that kind of striving takes away the sheer joy of unearned salvation. It’s like at Christmas time. Let’s suppose you as a parent or grandparent give your child/grandchild a present but say, “Now, you can have this for the price of $20 or (name your price) or even $1! No matter how you look at it, that is not a gift. A gift is not something that has to be paid for-no matter how much or how little.
I’ve heard it put this way:
Salvation is not a matter of what you do; it is a matter of what has been done.
Our salvation is not dependent on what we have or can do. Our salvation is dependent on what Christ has done. The Bible is clear: “By grace you have been saved through faith. It is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone can boast.” [Eph.2:8-9] I like that last phrase. Actually, the whole thing but that last phrase tells me two things: 1) I have no reason to boast about my goodness; and 2) neither does anyone else. My good works; their good works; will not endear me or them to God. I have nothing to brag about.
“Father, thank you for changing the word from ‘do’ to ‘don’t.’ Thank you that my salvation, or anyone’s for that matter, does not rely on how good I am. I have no reason to boast. I’m a sinner saved by your amazing grace.”
If salvation was based on a bank account of good deeds… I am sure I would be bankrupt. I once had rationalized in my head that as long as I got a passing grade, then I was good…I also had this notion that God graded on a curve. Neither of which are accurate. If it was based on grades, I would have had to have gotten 100% every time since my birth… That didn’t happen, still doesn’t. My only hope is that God allowed a another to take the test for me. His name is Jesus, and Yes… he scored 100%
I love that definition of salvation, Bill. We can do nothing on our own, and that is a great thing. Blessings!