- Your Righteousness = Hell
- (Ezekiel 33:13 & Galatians 2:21)
- Your Works = Hell
- (Romans 4:2-6 & Romans 11:6 )
- Your Righteousness + Your Works = Hell
- (Isaiah 57:12-13 & 64:6)
- God’s Righteousness = Heaven
- (Romans 3:22 & Romans 10:3)
- God’s Righteousness + Your Works = Heaven + Rewards
- (Philip 3:9, Matt 16:27 & Rev 22:12)
There is a difference between working for your salvation and living out your faith. When we are working to earn salvation or to earn God’s love, we are not in right standing with God. If your child felt they constantly needed to earn your love by doing things, they would never have peace and it would break your heart! That child never fully understood your love for them, if that's their mindset. Once we realize we can never earn salvation on our own and it's a free gift, our trust moves from us to Jesus. While, good works don't save you, they make God feel loved. You will be able to see who’s heart is really with the Lord based on their obedience towards him. Jesus says if you love him you will keep his commandments. A saved person will be eager to please the Lord because of their love for him. We are not going to love someone and never do anything for them. So Relax, if you have a relationship with Jesus, you are saved!
For more on this topic, check out my article The Dangers of Working for Your Salvation.
