It’s a fundamental tenet of the orthodox Christian faith that we are saved by faith alone. The Bible clearly states it.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Other passages that clearly teach salvation through faith alone include Acts 16:31, Romans 3:28, 4:5, 5:1, 11:6, Galatians 2:16, 3:24, Ephesians 1:13, and Philippians 3:9.
We are aware of this, and we will stand by it; yet, we can often fall into a trap.
We sometimes claim salvation is by faith, but live as if it is by works. Indeed, works should flow out of our salvation, but they don’t cause it. James addresses this subject frequently in his brief New Testament letter.
We start to think that somehow, God needs our help. What would God do if I didn’t do it for him? Now perhaps we might not state that so bluntly, but it’s at the heart of our attitude.
Single-handedly, we can save a ministry, a local congregation, or even Christianity. It may sound a little absurd, but that’s how many people act and feel.
At the risk of offending, God doesn’t need your help. He is more than capable of doing it all without our assistance. Our lack of participation and effort will not thwart his mission.
Yet, the Lord chose the church as His hands and feet to bring the truth to a lost and hurting world. He allows us to participate in the process that grows and blesses us.
He calls us to serve in many ways, but effective service is always led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We serve at the pleasure of the King of Kings.
Let’s remember that He saved us out of love and serve Him out of gratitude. It’s a privilege to serve beside Him, and without Him, our efforts are in vain.
May you find freedom in faith and joy in service.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin