By Grace

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace


If we can be saved by our deeds, how can we receive salvation? As the Bible says, we can only be saved by God's grace. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"(Eph 2:8). Then what does grace mean? Grace is given by God's favor without paying the price for it, and it is the love of God given by God's favor without paying the price for it, and it is the love of God given unconditionally to a person who doesn't deserve to receive. Grace is the gift of God which is freely given(Eph2:8). Paul said, "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace"(Rom 11:6). In other words, if there is a very small deed, it cannot be grace. Nobody can be saved without God's grace that we can't pay for.
Salvation can only be received through God's grace. Merits and good work of a person can not reach God's righteousness and standard. For example, a small plane has a problem, and it has an emergency landing in the middle of the South Pacific which is about 1,000 miles from the seashore. In this place, there are three people on board. One person is an Olympic swimmer. The other Olympic swimmer yells at them, "Follow me"and starts to swim to the seashore which is about 1,000miles far from the plane landed. The other two swim toward the seashore following after the Olympic swimmer. The person who never swam falls into water in less than 30 seconds. The person who is a mediocre swimmer swims about 30 minutes. and then falls into water. The toward seashore. But in order to reach the seashore, he has to keep swimming at least 475hours, which means, he has to keep swimming for 19 days. If he can't swim to the seashore, he is going to die falling into the water. He is no different than the person who died in thirty seconds and the person who died in 30 minutes.
There is an amazing truth in this story. Even if we are the best people in doing good works, we can't be saved by our deed. If there is anyone who believes salvation comes without one's deeds this person is near at the gate of salvation. The reason for Jesus saying "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"(Matt5:3)is right here.