You Can’t Earn This

"Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God's way. For the Scriptures tell us, 'Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.' When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners." (Romans 4:1-5). This is one of the most fundamental tenets of Christianity, yet something we often struggle with. In every other area of life, we work for what we earn – we study for a degree, train for a marathon, labor for a salary. These things feel deserved because of our effort. But faith is trusting God to do the work, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (Philippians 2:13). Faith doesn't mean we don't work – Abraham lived his faith – but our works, rituals, and efforts will never save us. "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 a gift! (Craig B). Open Bible – bit.ly/Rom4v1-5, bit.ly/phi2v13, bit.ly/Eph2v8