Not of Works

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
A man, who was in distress of soul, having been asked by a lady whether he was saved, replied,
"No, but I intend to be, though not just yet, for I am not quite ready."
"But now is the accepted time," she said, as she sought to impress upon him the importance of an immediate acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior.
"Don't tell me," said he, "that I can be saved without doing anything."
Upon his making this remark, a little boy who had been listening attentively during their conversation, opened the Bible and said,
"Please read that to him."
"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5).
The man listened most intently, and the word was used of God in blessing to his soul, for he observed,
"Well, there is no getting away from it—it is a fact! God says, 'TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT'."
How blessed it is to see that our salvation rests entirely upon what Another has done for us. Thousands of people are endeavoring to procure salvation by works, but the Word of God says:
"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).
When we seriously consider our condition as lost and ruined sinners in the sight of God (all having sinned and come short of His glory), it is quite clear that doing on our part is absolutely out of the question. We were entirely "without hope" until Jesus came—but, blessed be His precious name, He, the sinless One, undertook all the work necessary for our salvation, by bearing all God's righteous judgment due to sin, in our stead, on Calvary's Cross. What He endured there "no tongue can tell, or heart conceive."
Could we have done anything to merit salvation, Jesus would not have died; but because we were absolutely helpless in ourselves, and in order that we might not have to suffer banishment from the presence of God for ever on account of our sins, Jesus died, THE JUST for the unjust, to bring us to God.
How blessed to be able to rest our souls for all eternity upon Jesus, and what He has done, knowing that the great work of redemption was perfectly accomplished by Him for the eternal satisfaction and delight of the heart of God.
"Working will not save me!
Purest deeds that I can do,
Holiest thoughts and feelings too,
Cannot form my soul anew!
Working will not save me.

Christ alone can save me!
Faith in God's beloved Son,
Faith in the work that He has done;
Lord, to whom else could I come?
Thou alone canst save me.

Jesus bled and died for me:
Jesus suffered on the tree:
Jesus waits to make me free;
He alone can save me!"