Good works are indispensable to salvation – not as its grounds or mean, however, but as its consequence and evidence.
– John Stott
I had believed for a long time that to get to heaven, one has to do good works. For instance, you have to be a good person, through being a good friend, daughter, son, parent, co-worker, etc. This mentality is not rare. Even the apostle Paul and other New Testament writers have to explain numerous times how works relate to salvation.
Bible Reading
Today’s devotional reading is from the Book of Romans 4:3-4. Please, read our recent devotional from the Book of Job 3:11: Is Death Really An Option To Solve Problems?
Our Wage
When you collect your salary on your payday, do you consider it as a gift from your boss? No, right?! Because you know that you get paid to do a certain job. However, when you receive something that is not part of your pay, then that is a gift.
In the previous chapter, Paul has established the fact that no one is good except God (Romans 3:10). Furthermore, Jesus confirmed when He said to the rich young man, Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone (Mark 10:18). Both statements distinctly show that only the Triune God is good and that people are sinners.
This brings us to examine what is the wage of sin. Paul tells us that death is our salary and no amount of good works can change that.
The Precious Gift We Will Receive When…
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Is it not crystal clear? God does not want us to perish (2 Peter 3:9) that is why He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, as the ransom for men. Yet, people disregard the true essence of the verse: they focus on the part where God loved the world (us) and they ignore the part that he gave his only begotten Son. They forgot about the price for that love and for their salvation.
Paul explained that Abraham’s righteousness begun when he believed in God (Romans 4:3). No one gets righteousness by their deeds. Isaiah wrote, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6).
Therefore, it will be the same for us, when we believe in God through Jesus Christ and He will extend His righteousness to us.
Reflection
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- How do you understand salvation?
- Do you count your works as good?
- Can you get to heaven by doing good? Accept Jesus Now.
- Are you a good person? Take the Quiz!
- What is the wage you think you deserve?
Related Posts
- How To Walk Rightly With Jesus Christ?
- Praising God
- Seek the Good for Others
- Our gifts
- The Lord be with You
- The Righteous Or Wicked Way: Where Are You Heading?
Prayer
Our righteous God, Holy above holy. Thank you for extending your righteousness to us through your Son, Jesus Christ. O Lord, Jesus Christ, our saviour and redeemer. Thank you for the gift of salvation and eternal life. May the Holy Spirit continuously lead us and reprove our ways, that way we will be pleasing to God the Father.
We pray for the people who do not know you or refuse to believe in you. Send us, your believers, to minister unto them. Let your light and love be shown to them through the life our your believers. That we are sinners yet you paid the ransom for us to be free of the wages of our sins and in gratitude we do good works.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
