For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED BY THE GRACE
IMAGINE: You’re in front of a judge who has a long list of all the offenses you’ve committed that carry the death penalty. However, there is someone in the audience who promises to take your death penalty and replace you with a new person. As a result, you will receive something you do not deserve. That is exactly what Jesus did for you. But, just as you’d have to accept a fresh start in court that you didn’t earn, you’ll have to believe in and accept Jesus’ gift.
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)
WHY DO WE NEED TO BE SAVED BY THE GRACE?
You and I are in danger of eternal separation from God because of our rebellion against Him. This separation will result in a banishment from God’s presence, the source of all good (James 1:17). It will also mean that we will be punished for the rest of our lives as a result of our sin. According to the Bible:
All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
WHAT HAS THE SAVIOR DONE?
By coming down from Heaven and dying on the cross for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ became the Savior of sinners (including you and me). God raised Him from the dead, and He now sits at God’s right hand in Heaven as a living Savior (Hebrews 1:3).
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Christ died for our sins … was buried, and … rose again the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
HOW CAN YOU BE SAVED?
Turning to God in repentance and placing our faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be redeemed from our sins (and their consequences). Repentance is realizing and admitting that we are in significant peril, similar to a drowning swimmer.
To trust in the Lord Jesus as Savior is to believe that He paid the whole price for our forgiveness and cleansing on the cross by bearing our sins in His own body (1 Peter 2:24). When you fully trust Jesus with your full weight of sin, He will save you.
Nothing we can accomplish, no matter how noble our deeds are, will ever be enough to atone for one of our numerous misdeeds. The only thing we can do (and the only thing that God will accept) is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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 2:8-9)
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