In 1760, a self-proclaimed wretch penned the hymn, "Amazing Grace", his name was John Newton. Mr. Newton, with God's help, gave the church a great Hymn. A song that we still sing today about the Grace of God!!
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: "Ephesians 2:8
This passage of scripture leaves our religious point systems out of the picture. Humanity, unfortunately, inherited it's religious nature from Adam and Eve. What did Adam do when he sinned against God? He tried to fix it with some fig leaves, leaves that soon withered and exposed his nakedness. Our fig leaves are a pathetic excuse for the Grace of God but our religious nature still goes for the fig leaves instead of repentance. We are saved by the Grace of God, plus nothing--minus nothing!!
I can assure you that I was saved by grace, it had nothing to do with my being good and churchy. Sure, I walked the church isle, cried, got baptized and hugged all the good church folk almost every time I got in trouble!! Guess what, that's not salvation. Salvation is meeting Jesus and meeting Jesus is simple faith in Him as Savior. On January 31,1982, 35 years ago tomorrow, I met Jesus Christ my Savior, He radically changed my life!! It's sad that people are still wearing fig leaves today to try and cover their sin. Please quit wasting your time trying to please God enough with your good deeds to get to Heaven. The road to heaven is not paved with good intentions but with the Blood of Jesus, The Lamb of God!!!
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"For 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)
Put your faith and trust in Jesus today. Ditch your fig leaves because they will wither in a few hours and you'll have to gather some more anyway. Life would go a whole lot better for all of us if we would spend our time bragging about what God has done for us rather than what we've done for Him.
I Believe,
Scott L. Boatner
Insight from God's Word
