August 18, 2023: Saved By Grace!

"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)

Grace is God's ability in me to do the things I cannot do in and of myself. I could not and cannot save myself! Nor can anyone else in humanity. Because we cannot save ourselves, we are without hope in this life without Christ Jesus. This is why the apostle Paul said, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"  (Romans 7:24, ESV)  He knew he was hopeless in this life until he found Christ! Then he said, "Thanks be to God! I am saved through Jesus Christ, my Lord." And in Corinthians, he says, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15, ESV)

It is the ability of God that saves us, His and His alone! My salvation has nothing to do with me other than by faith, I believe, and His grace saves me from my sin! I can only boast in, and through Him, that salvation has come to me! 
    
So many try to clean themselves up before coming to Christ. The cleaning can never even start until you come to Him. Whether you are coming to be saved or coming to be sanctified from dead works. You are saved, and continue to be saved, by His amazing grace/ability alone