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When I was growing up in what was a somewhat legalistic and works-oriented church, I had this mistaken idea that there was a lot I needed to do personally to ensure my salvation. I accepted Jesus as my Savior, but had an underlying fear that my salvation could be lost if I was too bad, made the wrong choices, did not get baptized or you can fill in the blank; the list is endless.
I cannot tell you if this was taught to me, or if it was just my perception of how things worked. Either way, the older I got, the more frustrated I became because I could not in any way, shape or form be “good enough,” and there was a constant, nagging fear that I would somehow lose my salvation.
But here’s the thing: I could look the part. I am by nature a rule follower and can easily look like a great Christian. But deep down inside I knew how rotten I was, and I was living in fear that I would not be among the ones who were saved. No matter how hard I tried, I could not be perfect.
One day while preparing to teach a class of children, I came across a couple verses in Ephesians I had read many times before. The more I studied, the more it was clear that I did not completely understand the nature of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. As I dug deeper, I began to see how wrong my view was.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Salvation is a free gift from God! His death on the cross enables a person to be seen by God as holy and blameless, not because of what we do, but because of what HE DID! Assurance that I would never lose my salvation because of what Christ did on the cross gave me such a deep peace and joy that permeated my soul.
Do you believe Christ went to the cross for you, taking your guilt upon Himself, and enduring God’s judgment and wrath in your place? If you do, then God has forgiven your sins, you are pardoned and cleared from the guilt of your sin in God’s eyes (see John 3:16). You do not have to do ANYTHING but believe! No more trying to earn your way. No more striving to look good on the outside while knowing your true inside. Just humble submission to Jesus. What a relief!
And the real beauty of the whole deal is that God gives us those good works to do because we are humbly submitted to Him (see Ephesians 2:10). Having faith and believing that Christ did it all because of His amazing grace has changed everything. I am now free to do the good works that Christ prepared for me in the proper context. I can now walk in freedom without all the stress of doing good and still failing. My salvation is assured. I am His!
Previously published on selftalkthegospel.com. Used with permission.