Myth #5: "I Am Saved Through Achievement"

If you watch a lot of action movies, you’ve probably seen a scene like this:

Two action heroes have defied death and laughed in the face of danger for the last 53 minutes, only to find themselves in the most desperate of situations. As they run from danger, it becomes evident the slower of the two men will not make it out. Not wanting to pull his faster friend down with him, the slow man yells ahead, “Keep going! Save yourself!”

Aren’t you glad we don’t have to save ourselves?

Truthfully, nothing we achieve would be enough to save ourselves. We could never impress enough people, earn enough promotions, or volunteer enough hours in the church nursery to earn our salvation. Those aren’t bad things. In fact, they can be very good things. James 2:17 tells us faith without works is dead, but we don’t save ourselves through our own works. Our salvation is God’s gift, through grace. In Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul reminds us of the glorious gift of grace. Every ounce of our striving, working, and achieving would not be sufficient.

My Lord, I am who you say I am. You say I am saved by grace, through faith.