We’ve written a lot about purpose here at The Constant Battle. Whether it’s our purpose as Christ-followers or God’s prevailing purpose, the Bible is clear on what God’s purpose is for His people. In short, our purpose is to live according to the will of God and, as such, what we do matters, but people can often conflate works with salvation and come to the conclusion that as long as they do enough good, they get salvation.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Scriptures are very clear: we do not earn our salvation. God saved us when we believed; it was not based on anything we did. Salvation is not something that can be earned; it is a free gift from God. Paul specifically says: “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done.” This is very important. We can all too often boast about the good things we have done and it is very dangerous to attribute your “good works” with God’s free salvation. Do you know anyone who likes to point to the “good things they have done”? Do you find yourself boasting about your good deeds? During His sermon on the mount, Jesus talked about the day of judgement and He described people who would point to the good things they have done.  

“‘Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

These people immediately start calling out to Jesus and boasting about all the good they did on Earth as a means of saving their souls and entering Heaven. Jesus said that not everyone who calls out to Him, “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Rather, He says that only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Our works will not earn our way into Heaven. When it comes to salvation, it isn’t about our works, but whether or not Jesus knows us.

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.’” (…) Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.’ (…) “‘For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.’” (John 3:3, 5, 16)

It is not our good deeds or anything we do that earns us our salvation, but it is our acts of faith and surrender in accepting God’s free gift of Salvation. We must be born again of the Spirit, surrendering our will, confessing and repenting of our sins, and putting our faith in Jesus Christ. After we have committed to following Jesus, we must work to know and do the will of God.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

This is a major step in knowing what God’s will is for you. We must let go of the behavior and customs of this world and be transformed by God, allowing Him to transform the way we think and working to stay on His path. If we do this, then we will be well on our way to learning what God’s will is for us.

“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit…Stay away from every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, 22)

“It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.” (1 Peter 2:15)

God’s will for us is to be holy, to stay away from all sexual sin, to control our bodies, to always be joyful, to never stop praying, to live honorable lives and to be thankful in all circumstances. Our good works prove that we have faith but our good works do not earn our place in Heaven. Salvation is a free gift from God. 

“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Let us not make the mistake of elevating our filthy rags to the place of God’s righteous salvation. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed