"By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2) You are not saved by your works, but your faith is shown by your works. I Can't Imagine is correct: you cannot earn your way into heaven. Christ's suffering and death earned my way into heaven. Now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I can do good works.
God knows the heart bottom line. He knows who is trying to earn their way into heaven versus accepting Christ's gift. It is impossible to accept Christ's gift and then not have good works. We fall short, but we still try.
That is true but that is not salvation. What you are talking about is sanctification. Justification is through faith in the work of Christ on the cross (unearned) and is the gift of God.
Know your Bible: Faith without works is dead..A tree is known by itβs fruits..
"By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2) You are not saved by your works, but your faith is shown by your works. I Can't Imagine is correct: you cannot earn your way into heaven. Christ's suffering and death earned my way into heaven. Now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I can do good works.
I think it was CS Lewis that said GRACE defines Christianity β€οΈπ
my long time pastor always said (from the pulpit) that GRACE means Gods Righteousness At Christ's Expense....great acronymic definition.
God knows the heart bottom line. He knows who is trying to earn their way into heaven versus accepting Christ's gift. It is impossible to accept Christ's gift and then not have good works. We fall short, but we still try.
That is true but that is not salvation. What you are talking about is sanctification. Justification is through faith in the work of Christ on the cross (unearned) and is the gift of God.
Yes to knowing the Bible, yes to knowing salvation is only through Jesus Christ. β€οΈ