We CANNOT save ourselves by our own works, our own goodness, even our own attempts to keep His laws & to love Him. We cannot be good or perfect enough, to earn, merit or deserve the Heavenly perfection of His Own Holy Salvation by His Own grace, Love & mercy! It is impossible for anyone to be saved without the miraculous power of God!
Accepting Salvation is a work of God's GRACE. It's free; it can only be received. It's the gift of God, you can't work for it.--You can't EARN a GIFT or else it wouldn't BE a gift! God's Word says, "By GRACE are ye saved through faith--& that NOT of yourselves!--It is the GIFT of God.--NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast!"--(Eph.2:8,9)
God's idea of goodness, of TRUE righteousness, is a sinner who knows he needs GOD, & depends on HIM for Salvation. God's idea of saintliness is not self-righteousness & sinless perfection. It's a sinner saved by grace, a sinner who has no perfection, no righteousness of his own, but is totally dependent on the grace & the Love & the mercy of God by faith! Those are the only saints there are--there are no others! You haven't got anybody's righteousness except Christ's, & He's the only One that can give it to you! (Phi.3:9) |
