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 ESV)
Only by Grace
Some people like to add things to coffee, but I do not. Coffee is coffee. Adding other things might taste wonderful, smooth the acidity, and cool the liquid down… but to me, it is no longer coffee. SOMEONE agrees with me, so we see other names for beverages that are coffee PLUS something. Latte, Mocha, Americano, Cappucino, Café au Lait, Macchiato, Irish Coffee, Frappe, Affogato, and Red Eye are just a few such options. Adding something to the cup, and to me, they are simply no longer coffee.
You might not agree with me about my definition of coffee, but salvation inarguably works the same way. Salvation is by grace. If we add other things, it is no longer God’s plan of salvation.
Good deeds, church attendance, good theology, prayer, reading the Bible, memorizing God’s Word, are all great things. Christians are asked by God to do them. But they do not save us.
Salvation is, first and foremost, a gift from God.
Imagine having to earn your birthday present. Imagine Santa Claus asking kids what toys they want to buy. Imagine any sort of gift that you earned, worked for, or had to prove you deserve.
They would no longer be gifts.
For the next few days we will look at some things we might slip into our coffee. The good news of the gospel is, that those things are not what save us.
Only grace.