SALVATION PLUS A GOOD DEED?

 

All self effort is focused on self achievement.WHEN WE BRING ANY SELF EFFORT AT ALL TO THE CROSS;WE ARE DESPISING GRACE and put ourselves under the law. SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT. A GIFT OF GRACE (UNMERITED UNDESERVED MERCY) THAT CANNOT BE PURCHASED WITH OUR WORKS,DEEDS,EFFORTS,ACHIEVMENTS OR CHARACTER.

JESUS CHRIST PURCHASED HIS SHEEP WITH HIS OWN BLOOD and so to add works to his sacrifice is in effect to say that, HIS WORK is just not good enough. What is self effort?

We must do this for God
I must do this for God
You must do this for God
They must do this for God

The bible says that the Holy Spirit changes his elect and makes them acceptable to God by the washing of the word and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, (born again) The blood of Jesus cleanses from all unrighteousness and not works of any kind.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Philippians 2:13

When we belong to God then we have the Holy Spirit living in us and through us so that we can do the works that each of us individually are called to do by God’s grace and power and not by any self effort.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose. Galatians 2:20-21

Christianity is called the exchanged life. We give up all our self effort and rest in God’s ability. We cease from all works! That is why Jesus has become our Sabbath rest now.

You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:24-45

If salvation were by grace through faith plus a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or a gift of $50 to the Church, we would be saying through all eternity, “ I am glad I paid that money to the church.” We would share the glory of our salvation. And God does not wish to share His glory with anyone not even with us!

If anyone adds any work to salvation in anyway they are nullifying the cross and rejecting the atonement of Jesus Christ . If one adds their works or good deeds to the gospel he/she has fallen from grace, and grace no longer applies to them. They have put themselves under the law and will be judged by that law at the judgment seat of God.

The Bible says to repent of dead works and come to Jesus Christ for his salvation. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God Romans 10:3

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Hebrews 2:3

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. Eph 2:9

And be found in him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Phillipians 3:9

In conclusion, the cross is enough to save! The blood of Jesus is enough to save! Adding a good deed of any kind rescinds the new covenant between God and man. The Gospel is all about GRACE! GRACE to save, GRACE to sanctify and GRACE to justify!