“No! but I am working hard for it,” so said a woman, in answer to a visitor, who had asked if she had found salvation.
“Ah you will never get it that way. Christ did all the working when He suffered and died for us, and made complete atonement for our sins. You must take salvation solely as a gift of free, unmerited grace, else you can never have it at all.”
This is the gospel. It is by grace we are saved, through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast (Eph. 2)
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5.
“To Him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom. 4:5.