Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, 5 that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms all because we are one with Christ Jesus. 7 And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.  8 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Man has put many human rituals into religion today and many think that by doing them, they are saved and will spend eternity in heaven with God. If this were true, then the power to be saved would be within ourselves. It would be by our own power that we are made right with God. But they are wrong.  There is nothing that we can do, say or be that can save us from our sins.  If it is by our own power, then why would we need God?  And wouldn’t that give some people something to boast about?  If we could save ourselves by works then we could take on a self-righteous attitude and say, “I did it better than you so therefore my way is more right then yours!”  Imagine the chaos. Salvation is not a reward for things done right, it is a gift from God. We are saved by believing in the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross for us.  We are saved when we admit we are sinners and need God’s grace to cover our sins. Then we turn from our sin and start moving toward God. This is what makes us right with God.  This is what gives us peace.  We know that He is now living in us and will never leave us because of His promise in His Word.  And this is the Word of God, “You can’t take credit for salvation; it is a gift from God!”   But you must accept it.  It is not yours until you pick it up and make it yours.  If you have not done this, get on your knees today and tell God that you accept His Gift.

Have a God Day!