“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8
The book of Ephesians clearly states that faith alone secures our salvation. However, works are also emphasized greatly in the Bible. Steven K. Scott sheds light on the relationship between our faith and our works in regards to salvation.
“We’re called to follow Christ. We don’t work our way into heaven.”
In order to be saved we must believe in Jesus and dedicate our lives to following Him.
According to Steven, Americans wrongly define believing as an opinion or a vote. However, that’s not what Jesus is talking about. Jesus talks about belief of the heart because out of the heart comes all of our behavior.
“The evidence of a Christian isn’t the prayer you pray, the evidence of a Christian is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that happens when you’re born again.”
If we have a hunger for Christ and His righteousness then we are born again because we are displaying fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus says that if we are truly born again we will take up our cross and follow Him. We don’t try to bear fruit so we can be saved, if we are truly saved it will flow from us.
Christ never called anybody to “receive” him or invite him into their life. He called people to follow Him.
“The only people who don’t struggle with sin are the people who have surrendered to it.”
What about sin?
When we begin following Christ, we might start to sin less, but we will always struggle with our sinful nature and that’s okay because we’re in good company.
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15
Even the Apostle Paul, the author of Romans struggled with sin.
“Because we want to follow Christ it’s a struggle but Christ says that if we abide in his Word, that power becomes less and less.”
God doesn’t expect us to be perfeclty sinless on earth. He calls us to cling to Him and His Word as He softens our hearts and weakens the grip of sin on our lives.
Key Scriptures: John 17:3; John 16:33; Matthew 7:23-26
Featured Songs: Cornerstone by Hillsong; Christ is Enough by Hillsong; Calvary Covers It All by Hillsong
Highlight : The relationship between faith and works in salvation
