August, 2022 | THE BIBLE VIEW

The BIBLE VIEW #873 — Your Testimony

In This Issue:
He Says He’s a Soldier
What Others See
“It Will Always Shine!”

Volume: 873 August 29, 2022
Theme: Testimony

Theme: Drifting Away

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He Says He’s a Soldier
Bill Brinkworth

“You’re sure you’re a soldier?” I queried.

“Yes, sir,” quipped the slovenly dressed young man in civilian clothes.

“Where’s your uniform?”

“Well,” he explained, “I don’t wanna be like everyone else. I never even bought one.”

“Hmm,” I scratched my head. “If you’re a soldier, certainly you must have read the soldiers’ training manual.”

“No, never read it at all.”

“You’re a soldier, don’t have a uniform, and never even read the training manual?” I was really perplexed now. “Certainly, you’ve attended boot camp?”

“No, never had the time. I always had something to do when the Army wanted me to go.”

“And you’re sure you’re a United States Army soldier?”

“Yes, sir. I’m very proud to serve my country. Whenever they need me, they can count on me,” was his proud answer.

“I’m a little confused. You say you’re a soldier but never wore the uniform, read any procedure manuals, or attended training. Did you ever fight in any battles?”

“Oh, no. They wouldn’t let me because I never attended boot camp. But when they have a war, I’ll be there.”

“Hmmm.” I just had to ask, “Well, what makes you so sure you’re a soldier?”

“I must admit, it seems strange that I haven’t done things most soldiers do. But, you see, my father was in the service. His father was also in the Army, and I believe even his father was. So everyone just knows I’m a soldier, too.”

This fictitious scenario is echoed thousands of times through a similar testimony of professing Christians. They claim they are a child of God, but do not think, believe, dress, or behave like one. They never read God’s training manual, the Bible, never faithfully attend church, and are not observed doing anything spiritual. They are in the battle and have lost, but they do not know it has even started.

God’s Word clearly teaches one way to be saved. It is not my method or yours that will get one into Heaven. It is His Heaven, and there is only one way there; His way.

That way is to know we are sinners, as Romans 3:23 clarifies: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Because of our sin, none of us has pleased God, and an eternal punishment awaits them. Romans 6:23 states: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

There is good news, however. Although we are sinners and heading for Hell, Christ died for our sins and paid for them (Romans 5:8). The proper way to get to Heaven is to accept His payment for all our iniquities. After believing that, we have God’s promise that we will go to Heaven: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).” That is God’s way to be with Him forever.

Being a Christian will soon be a public affair. People will see that the Holy Spirit has made some changes in one’s life. Family and friends will see moral practices replacing old wicked routines and habits. It will be evident where the Christian will be on Sunday. His Bible will also no longer be dusty.

It will no longer be a guessing game to determine if one is a Christian when one is genuinely saved. The changes in his life and lifestyle will make it clear that he is “born again.” He will be proud to be enlisted in God’s army and will make it evident by looking and acting like a real Christian soldier.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

What Others See
Bill Brinkworth

One of the most valuable assets a Christian can have is his testimony. What others think of him is often what they see him do, how he reacts in certain situations, and how they believe a Christian should live (although their view may not always be accurate). Paul gave some advice in Ephesians 4 on how to preserve that testimony. Some of his advice included:

Do not live like the rest of the world and put the wrong value on things that are really unimportant (Eph. 4:17-18).
Do not lust after things of this world and be consumed with greed for them (Eph. 4:19).
Do not let your conversation with others be about lust for this world’s things (Eph. 4:22).
Live a righteous life and strive to be a good example (Eph. 4:24).
Let your conversation be honest and do not lie (Eph. 4:25).
If you get angry, get it right with those involved before the sun goes down (Eph. 4:26).
Do not get close to sin and allow the devil to destroy your testimony (Eph. 4:27).
Do not steal, but work hard for what you want (Eph. 4:28).
Be careful of the words you utter, making sure what you say helps others (Eph. 4:29).
Do not sadden the indwelling Holy Spirit by sinning (Eph. 4:30).
Do not allow the sins of bitterness, violence, anger, and evil speaking to be part of your life (Eph. 4:31).
Be kind to others (Eph. 4:32).

As hard as we try, some will always see our example as wrong, no matter how we adhere to the above advice and other godly principles. Although it is impossible to please all the people all the time, we have a responsibility to have the best testimony possible.

Our example is not so much about what others think about us, but what others think about Christ by our example. We are often all the unsaved will ever see about Christ. Will they determine they do not want to be a Christian because of what they observed in our behavior, or will they consider being one because of how we live our lives?

“Your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”

“It Will Always Shine!”
Author Unknown

A traveler once visiting the lighthouse at Calais said to the keeper, “What if one of your lights should go out at night?”

“Never! Impossible!” he exclaimed. “Sir, yonder are the ships sailing to all parts of the world. If tonight one of my burners went out, in six months, I would hear from America, or India, saying that on such a night, the lights at Calais lighthouse gave no warning, and some vessel had been wrecked. Lives could be lost because of my neglect. Ah sir, I sometimes feel, when I look upon my lights, as if the eyes of the entire world are fixed upon me. Go out! Burn dim? Never! Impossible!”

What a lesson that man’s commitment and fervor should be to the Christian! The Christian must remember he is a spiritual lighthouse for the world to observe. Let then his “light” be full, bright, and clear. The moment he neglects it and leaves his “lamps” untrimmed, some poor soul, struggling amid the waves of temptation, for lack of a beacon of example to light his way, may be dashed upon the rocks of destruction.

“I have ever deemed it more honorable and more profitable to set a good example than to follow a bad one.” — Thomas Jefferson

The BIBLE VIEW #872 — Salvation

In This Issue:
There Are Not Different Ways to Be Saved
How Good Are You?
Christ, Our Captain

Volume: 872 August 22, 2022
Theme: Salvation

There Are Not Different Ways to Be Saved
Bill Brinkworth

No matter what anyone thinks or says, there is only one way to Heaven. The Word of God says that Jesus is the only Way (John 14:6).
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

We must believe we cannot save ourselves and that our salvation is the gift of God purchased for us by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He died in our place for our sins! If we accept that and trust in that way only, then we can have God’s promise of an eternity in Heaven.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

However, many will not accept God’s terms of having an eternity with Him. They want to get there their way. They trust they will get there by doing what they think is right or what their religion has taught them is the way, even though it is contrary to what the Bible teaches.

Before I was saved, I also had my ideas of how to get to Heaven, and they were just as non-biblical as:

“I believe I’m going to Heaven because my grandfather was a preacher….” Well, that is wonderful that he was. Still, nobody’s righteous living or salvation can earn them Heaven for another. We must have a personal relationship with Jesus and trust Him as our Saviour.
“I believe I’m going to Heaven because I’m a good person.” Well, I am sure you are by most people’s standards, but going to Heaven is not measured by human standards. It is measured by God’s commandments, and He says that all are sinners (Romans 3:23)!

It is not the sins one has committed lately that condemn one’s soul; it is a lifetime of transgressions. One must realize all are born with a sinful flesh incapable of pleasing God unless we allow God to create a new creature in us and save us from Hell.

Before I was saved, I thought my good works would get me to Heaven. Then I wondered, “If good works get one to Heaven, how many do you have to do? Is it 50, 100, or 10,000? Have I done enough?” That haunting question led me to read the Bible. After 40+ years of reading the Bible, I have never found the answers to that question because God’s Word never says that goodness will get anyone to Heaven. Salvation is God’s gift to you; it cannot be earned.

“I believe I’m going to Heaven because I’m an American.” That is good. I am American also, but being born in a “Christian” nation does not get anyone any higher than the tombstone. It is only by trusting Christ as Saviour!
“I believe I’m going to Heaven because my wife saved me.” That may sound funny to some, but some people who have married a spouse whose example helped alter their lives think that because they are better now, they will go to Heaven. Well, maybe you have a wonderful husband, wife, or parents, but again, we are accountable for ourselves (Romans 14:12, Matthew 13:36), and goodness cannot get us to Heaven!
“I believe I’m going to Heaven because I’m very religious.” Well, you may be. Unfortunately, some “religious” people try to do more to please God than many true Christians do. However, “religion” cannot save anybody; only trusting what Jesus has done for us will!
“I belong to a very good church.” Your church may teach biblical doctrine, but joining any church will guarantee no one Heaven. Some “religions” claim that only their religion can save. That is a lie! Only trusting Jesus Christ’s finished work on the Cross can get anyone to Heaven (John 3:3, John 3:16).
“I don’t believe there is a Heaven, Hell, or God, and I’ll just die like a dog, and that’s it!” Although I always handle that remark politely, the truth of the matter that is a foolish belief!
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalms 14:1

Too many people try to out guess God and do his thinking for Him. It does not matter what you or I think about obtaining Heaven, but what God says! It is God’s Heaven. He will allow us to go there under His conditions. His way is to accept Christ as our Saviour from eternal punishment (Romans 10:9). His way is the only way.

“Human nature’s way of salvation is, “Do, do, do.” But God’s way of salvation is, “Done, done. It is all done.” You have but to rely by faith on the atonement that Christ accomplished on the Cross.” — Spurgeon

How Good Are You?
Bill Brinkworth

In the Bible, young David’s foe, Goliath, was a giant warrior. It is recorded he was “six cubits and a span” tall. One immediately wonders, “How big is a cubit and a span?”

A cubit is from the tip of one’s middle finger to the tip of the elbow. Most assume it to be 18 inches.

Others say that it may have been measured by the cubit of the king at the time. King Saul was a large man, so his cubit could have been 20 inches long.

To make it more confusing, other lengths are attributed to this measurement. The Babylonian cubit is 20.65 to 21.26 inches long. The long Hebrew cubit was 18.36 to 18.9 inches.

The exact size of a span is also questionable. Its length is derived from the distance from an extended hand’s tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger. Most assume it is nine inches. One can easily see that this is also an unreliable measurement because it depends on whose hand is measured.

Depending on what standard was used, the giant Goliath may have been 9.75 to 11.5 feet tall. One can easily see that a subjective, comparative measurement is not accurate. Man’s measuring is not always reliable.

Similar measuring is used when one compares his “goodness” with that of another. “I am not as bad as that adulterer,” or “I’m not as bad as that liar and murderer.” Who made you the standard for measuring who is naughty or nice?

Ultimately, it is not man’s standards that are accurate or count. What one may think is good behavior, another may view as poor. Standards on measuring good conduct can change from one person to another and even change several times a day. What is acceptable in one country may be abhorrent in another. Some behavior accepted today was frowned upon in previous generations.
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” II Cor. 10:12

Ignored by most, the origin of what defines righteousness and evil is God’s Word, the Bible. Within its preserved pages, man can read what God says is right and wrong. His opinion never changes and is the only one that ultimately matters. His measurements of behavior have been steadfast throughout human history.

God cuts quickly to the chase. He makes it quite clear, by His gauge, none are “good.” As hard as man may try, he is still a sinner, and his efforts in controlling his conduct are only external, temporary, and fall short of what God deems good.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Rom. 3:23
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10 Also: Rom. 3:9, Gal. 3:22.

God’s honest judgment of us certainly should change our judging of others. We are all sinners!

Except for God’s mercy and giving us a way to have our sins forgiven and forgotten, there would be no hope for us to miss Hell. Forget your opinionated judgments of others and see yourself as God sees you — a sinner and not “good.” Your measuring tool of goodness means little.

However, we can be forgiven of our iniquities. The only way is by trusting that Jesus’ death on the cross is payment for our wickedness. Then, once cleared of our sins, we can follow God’s scriptural commandments and please our heavenly Father. Our obedience and deeds are then “good” in His eyes.

“Don’t judge a man because he sins differently than you. Some may be forgiven of their iniquities, but we are all sinners.”

Christ, Our Captain
Author Unknown

The Highland chief, McGregor, fell wounded by two bullets. Seeing their leader fall, the clan wavered and gave their enemy an advantage. The chieftain, beholding the effects of the disaster, raised himself upon his elbow, and while the blood gushed in streams from his wounds, he cried, “I am not dead, my children. I am looking to see you do your duty.”

Those words revived the sinking courage of his clansmen to stem the dreadful tide of battle. The leader’s presence was worth a thousand men.

The Captain of our salvation, Jesus, though slain, yet lives and looks upon his militant followers with unutterable tenderness of affection. He desires all of us to continue onward and fight the good fight. Don’t quit! Onward you must go!

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
I Timothy 6:12

The BIBLE VIEW #871 — Liberalism

In This Issue:
The Damage They Have Done
The Old Is Better
Christianity above Philosophy
Whose Christ?

Volume: 870 August 8, 2022
Theme: Liberalism

The Damage They Have Done
Bill Brinkworth

A liberal philosophy has existed throughout history, but rarely has it done as much damage to society as it has done in the last fifty years. Many boast and are not ashamed of having such a philosophy, but its destruction to individuals and the populace is far-reaching.

Webster’s dictionary (1828) defines “liberal” in many ways. The definitions applied to a liberal philosophy include “not literal or strict, licentious, lacking decorum, unseemly beliefs, favoring changes, progressive, tolerant of other views.” Liberal thinking is usually a value system that deviates from what is traditionally considered normal and moral. From a Christian’s perspective, it includes beliefs that reject and want to change moral truths preserved by God in His Word, the Bible.

Any variance from how God wants man to believe and live will only lead to an individual or society becoming more immoral and living a lifestyle further from God’s demands. The outcome of accepting immorality has never been good for cultures of the past. Societies deviating from following God’s guidelines have suffered, whereas those abiding by His commandments have flourished.

Over the years, we have not discouraged these philosophies contrary to God’s Word. In too many cases, liberal thinking has even been encouraged. Liberal philosophers, politicians, preachers, professors, and teachers, whose beliefs kept them from being employed in the past, are now sometimes given preferential treatment in getting a job. Although their thinking is often accepted, the price it has cost society is immeasurable.

Here are some of the negative changes liberalism has caused in our society:

Where the morality of the majority of society was in line with scriptural teachings, the Bible has been banned in many institutions, societies, and even in conversation. In doing so, the standard that says lying, stealing, taking of lives, adultery, homosexuality, worshipping other gods, and other moral limitations, has been removed. Without God’s standards, it is acceptable to tell “little” white lies, take things that do not belong to you if you are needy, kill unborn babies because they are unwanted, commit homosexuality, and worship anything you want, because you feel better when you do so. Without God’s measuring tool, the Bible, anything goes.
Leaders who once could not get a job or be elected if their character or beliefs strayed from biblical teachings are now elected to positions that make decisions that alter society’s morals. Elected leaders in the United States have passed laws that allow over 4,000 murders of unborn babies every day. They have also removed mentions of anything about God or His Word in public situations (including the Ten Commandments that were posted in many public buildings), encouraged public acceptance of homosexuality, making it a crime if anything is said contrary to their beliefs (“hate crimes”), and countless other anti-scriptural laws.
Liberal religious schools have produced preachers and leaders brainwashed to question and doubt God’s Word. When they preach, they instill those doubts to their congregation, and now few under their preaching know what the Bible says, believe it, and certainly do not follow His Word. Because of the liberal infiltration of pulpits, “thus saith the Lord” is no longer instilled in minds. The “fear of God” has been removed from many churches!
Tolerance of anything, including others’ beliefs, has allowed unscriptural, damaging lifestyles to breed. Humanity’s depravity is now laughed at and accepted most times, as there are no longer any standards that say anything is wrong.
Teachers and professors with little biblical character and standards are allowed to guide and direct young minds during most of their students’ day. How do you think a student’s thinking will be after 12 years of liberal propaganda?

As an old ad said, “We have come a long way, baby.” Unfortunately, the way we have gone is morally downhill, and it is not good — in God’s eyes!

Just because the liberals are confused, have few biblical standards, and in many cases, are rebellious against God does not mean that we have to follow and conform to their way of life that we are forced to live! We, as Christians, know where the Truth is.

Our responsibility is to be examples many will want to follow. Christians are to be a light in this dark, sinful world. We need to lead Biblically, not follow unscriptural pathways. If one by one, we each live our lives according to what God has preserved in His written Word, once again, it will be unpopular to think and live contrary to what God’s Word says to do.

“Usually, the liberal tries to camouflage his true identity.”
— Dr. Harold Sightler

The Old Is Better
H. Cameron

What is the new theology?
Some substitute for Calvary?
Exalting sinful self, guilty man.
Ignoring Heaven’s peerless plan?
It cannot give my conscience peace,
Nor find my spirit’s sweet release.

What is the old theology?
‘Tis Jesus died instead of me.
Jehovah’s law he magnified.
God’s justice is fully satisfied;
I died in Him, yet live I again
With Him forevermore to reign.

“God’s perfect will and way need not be modernized.”
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb. 13:8

Christianity above Philosophy
Author Unknown

Every system of philosophy is little in comparison to Christianity. Philosophy may expand our ideas of creation, but it neither inspires a love for the moral character of the Creator nor a well-grounded hope of eternal life.

Philosophy, at most, can only place us at the top of Mount Pisgah, but there, like Moses, we will die. It gives us no possession of the good, Promised Land.

It is the province of Christianity to add, “All is yours.” When you ascend to the heights of human discovery, some things are beyond reach. Scriptural revelation is the only medium by which standing, as it were, on “Nature’s Alps,” we discover things which the “… eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

“Man’s philosophy is a bully that talks very loud when the danger is at a distance, but when facing life’s real difficulties, it runs away and cannot be found.” — Author Unknown

Whose Christ?
Herbert Lockyer, An Instrument of Ten Strings

Christians who love to be in places of worldly, sinful amusement give the world a false conception of Christianity. Their being in those places indicates by their presence that Jesus Christ can save, but He cannot satisfy and that there has to be some addition of the world to make the Christian happy.

I met a girl in Liverpool who listened one evening as I spoke about complete separation from the world’s ungodliness. She went home and was very unhappy.

She returned in desperation to tell me that if the theater, movies, and worldly amusements went out of her life, she would have nothing to live for.

I said, “God help you.”

“But,” she said, “I belong to the ___ church.”

“Well,” I said, “what has that to do with it?”

“We are told to have our quiet time in the morning,” she answered, “and then we can take Jesus into all these places.”

“Well,” I said, “you may take your Jesus into those places, but you cannot take the One of the Bible into there.”

“But, those who go to the limit to enjoy all the things that the devil provides in this world find that the way in the end is hard. For the moment sin appears to be the thing that you need, and there is a thrill in it, the ‘thrill’ soon harms the sinner, and it becomes a burden and a heartache.” — Dr. Harold Sightler

The BIBLE VIEW #870 — Good Works Cannot Save

In This Issue:
The Law Cannot Save
Only Faith
Not By Good Deeds

Volume: 870 August 8, 2022
Theme: Good Works Cannot Save

The Law Cannot Save
Bill Brinkworth

The laws of the Old Testament were more than the commonly known Ten Commandments. There are hundreds of them (Some say 603. Others claim there are 613) covering morality, proper worship, social behavior, punishments for violations, and dietary restrictions. No one could ever go to Heaven by obeying the laws. No one could ever keep them all.

There was a reason God gave us those laws, though. They:
1. showed man what sin is,
2. helped man see he is guilty of sin, and
3. because of his sin, man cannot justify himself.

God’s law is our teacher (Galatians 3:24) to show us that we are not only sinners, but we cannot please God by “perfection.” When Jesus came, He was the one-time sacrifice that paid for all man’s sins. Trusting Christ’s payment for all our sins by faith (Gal 2:16) is the only way anyone can be pardoned from sin.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Gal. 2:16

No one can be justified by keeping the works of the law! The laws help us better understand God’s mind, but just keeping them will get no one into Heaven. In the early church, Paul had to battle that false belief, which is also faced today.

It is natural for man to want to earn God’s favor. This feeling is behind false religions and worship. People are always trying to do something to reach Heaven. Their works include: “being good,” performing some religious ceremony, abiding by church ordinances, trying not to sin, and the list goes on. Most have an innate feeling that if their good deeds outweigh their wrong-doings, God will let them into Heaven.

The law came to show man that there was no way to please God. However, there was a wonderful day when the impossible became possible. That day was when Jesus died on the cross and paid for ALL men’s sins. When they accept His sacrifice by faith as payment, they can then be justified. By accepting Christ as Saviour, one can have God’s promise of Heaven.

Only Faith
Bill Brinkworth

To early believers, obeying the Old Testament laws was part of their life and upbringing. If they were Jews, the commandments were drilled into them much of their life. Those laws were even a part of the gentile’s upbringing. The morality of those laws had done what God introduced them for, to teach many what was right and wrong (Gal. 3:24). Even today, with few even attending church or reading their Bible, the law has still done its work in many hearts. It still convicts many to know what is right and what is not.

When Christianity started spreading, its message was different. Instead of the strict enforcement of the law, its message had much to do with “faith.” The people had to believe something that was not written at the time, was talked negatively about in their temples, and could not be seen or proven. It was an “invisible” trust on their part.

Faith was an old concept, but many never realized it was part of Old Testament lives. When it was emphasized in the early church teachings, there were some questions and doubts. The Jews did not quite realize that much of what Abraham (Gal. 3:9), Moses, and other Old Testament figures did was done by faith on their part. Those saints had to step out and follow God without clear direction or signs. Their faith that the Almighty would deliver or help them allowed them to get closer to God and to be used by Him.

The early Christians had to step out and trust what Jesus said and commanded them to do. They had to believe that His words were also God’s commandments. With the pull of what they used to do for hundreds of years, by sight and obedience to the law, they now had to understand that it was more important to trust Jesus’ finished work on the cross (Gal. 3:26).

I imagine their feelings were much like those of one saved from an unbiblical religion today. Those people may have been used to lighting candles, reciting prayers, telling their sins to a man in a confessional, and following other church teachings. After they got saved, they realized that those practices were not scriptural, and that they were not to do them anymore. They had to step out by faith, believe Jesus’ words, trust Him, and forget what they had done in the past.

Faith in Christ can be difficult for some to trust alone. Laws seem more secure for many to follow. That is why so many try to hang on to both sides. They try to follow the rules they learned previously and try to live by faith. It cannot be both. Trusting in something other than faith is not faith (Gal. 3:12). We can only be justified (“pardoned or cleared of sin’s guilt”) by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:27).

“Faith without following is folly.” — Barbara Brinkworth

Not By Good Deeds
Bill Brinkworth

In Ephesians 2, Paul addressed converted gentiles (Eph. 2:11), reminding them of the most important points of how they became Christians. Those crucial steps have eluded many religions, even some “Christian” denominations.

The distinctions that separate a lost, even though a “religious person,” from a saved person are that:

A person is saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8 ) because Jesus died on the cross and paid for their sins. Grace is “free, unmerited love” from God. A person is saved not because one is good-looking, worthy of salvation because of superior intelligence, or an exceptional person. All are saved because God is good, He loves us, and it has nothing to do with who we are.

If we make the first step in believing Jesus died for our sins, God’s love will do the rest. We have to go first, not wait to have proof but do as a child does when he believes what his parents tell him. The child simply believes and obeys, so must we do and trust what God has told us.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8
We are saved because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s approval (Eph. 2:9) other than trusting Christ as Saviour. No amount of good works, kindness, or religious mumbo-jumbo will get us higher than the coffin lid. We cannot earn our way because the ticket has already been paid. Trying to do something to earn salvation negates the trusting by faith we must do.
“Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9

However, doing deeds according to what Scripture commands, doing what we can do for the cause of Christ, or bringing honor to God after we are saved is the right thing to do (Eph. 2:10). A born-again person is to serve Him, not just to sit and soak up God’s goodness.

Many nod their head in agreement with Ephesians 2:8-9 but do not connect what it says to what they may be doing or believing. The whole point of the two verses is there is nothing we can do to earn Heaven. We must only trust what God has already done for us.

Even biblical doctrines have been turned into good works people hope will make them worthy of Heaven. Countless people and religious leaders have clarified their salvation as “Of course, I am going to Heaven, I have been baptized,” “I tithe,” “help the poor,” “live a good life,” or “I obey the rules of my church.” They are good works that will please God after one is saved, not good works to get one saved and to Heaven. Those deeds become conditions added to what God said to do in Eph. 2:8-9. It is only faith that will get one God’s promise of Heaven. You cannot add anything to it.

“It is grace or works. The Bible says it is only God’s grace that saves anyone.”