Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done

The Scribes and Pharisees could not stand our Saviour Jesus because they walked in darkness. If you look closely at what they believed and taught, it is no different from what is being taught from many pulpits today: obey the law and do certain things and then, God will bless you; in essence, “do good, get good; do bad, get bad.” This is not the gospel. No talk about the finished work of Christ in making the sinner righteous and in making us (undeserving) recipients of EVERY SINGLE BLESSING accruing to the righteous when we believed, and not because we kept the law or fasted for it!

Paul preached a sermon that is recorded word-for-word in Acts 13 and summarized it thus:

38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

41 ‘Behold, you despisers,

Marvel and perish!

For I work a work in your days,

A work which you will by no means believe,

Though one were to declare it to you.’”

Today, many are still struggling with the Truth that Christ has paid the price for all of our sins- past, present and future and that our reigning in life and being caught up in the air with Christ at the Rapture is not hinged on our own obedience but on the obedience of Christ. Something about the arm of flesh that wants to be relevant. Friend, it’s not about us. It’s all about Jesus. See Ephesians 2:

“8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”