Grace, I'll Never Get Tired Of Grace

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:4, 5, 8, 9 NIV)

(Credit: 

http://wendymayo1.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/gods-grace-in-hands.jpg)

One thing I have recently learned is that when the bible repeats something, you better listen and take it in. Ephesians 2:8 is one of the first things you learn as a Christian and even if I have been one for years! I continue to learm from it and the paragraph where Paul mentions it.

The first part of Ephesians 2 shows us how much we need to be saved from what we naturally are. If you could not relate to it, please tell me your secret. Verse 4 shows us how we are saved and Paul continues by mentioning that it is by grace. Through this grace, we are seated with Christ by God.

I'm sure you've seen or heard that when you share a seat, you win a friend. We rarely seat with someone we don't know. In foodcourts, you ask the person that was at the table first if space may be shared. But by grace, it is God Himself who seats us with Christ and allows us every blessing that He has for Christ!

Still, by grace, Paul reiterates and adds that it is not what we could do that gives us salvation, it is by what God offers us. And with this offer, there is an assurance of the great plan He has for our lives.

Just remember that it is an offer. Salvation is available, if we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Salvation Required

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9 NIV)

Growing up, I generally hated "evil" things and was seen to be mostly a good guy by my peers. "Wicked" was the last thing I would describe myself then so I felt that when I die, I deserve to go to Heaven. I'd stay in Purgatory maybe for a while but then eventually, I'll reach Heaven. I wasn't really scared of going to Hell then.

Most of the time, if guilt crept in, I'd just do something "good" and then just feel good after. Paranoia may creep in to think if I should do more, just to make sure. Now, I know why that happens.

It's simple, I can't save myself from my self. By instinct, I would always choose things to preserve my being. And that paranoia is there because no matter how many good things I do, I can't have a complete sense of peace.

Original Sin has found its way in me the moment I was born. And even if you don't understand or believe in it, can you relate with the paranoia or have you had that inner voice experience?

In whatever way you make sense of things, God's Truth is found in Ephesians 2:8, 9. I can only be saved from my sinful nature by accepting this gift from God. I don't deserve it, but His Grace He has extended to me. The condition is for me to believe in it, through faith, and to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. It is a gift, it is not by what I have done, not by what i can do.