Performance-based Salvation
Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:4–5)
A few years ago, Wendy and I were having dinner at a restaurant near a church where I was speaking. It was the third day of the conference, and I had spoken several times already. We were enjoying a quiet meal away from the crowds prior to my final message later that evening. As we were wrapping up, a couple from across the dining room recognized me from the event and came over to say hello on their way out. They thanked me for my messages and told us how much the conference had meant to them.
Outwardly I expressed gratitude for their kind words of encouragement. On the inside, however, I am embarrassed to admit that I was frustrated that they were intruding upon our down time and interrupting our private dinner. After a few moments they left. Wendy and I finished our meal, and I asked the server to bring our check.
“Your check has already been taken care of,” the server told me. I said, “What do you mean? Who paid my check?” She responded, “I do not know their names, but it was that couple that came over to your table and talked with you.” “Can I at least pay the tip?” I asked. “That is taken care of as well,” she informed me. You can imagine how ashamed I felt in that moment.
Later that evening, the same couple stopped by our resource table after my message to purchase a book. I thanked them for picking up our tab at dinner. “That was so gracious of you,” I said. “You did not have to do that. Can I at least split it with you?” I offered. “Don’t even think about it,” the gentleman said. “It is our gift to you.” I continued to argue gently with the man, wanting to repay him in some way for his act of kindness. Eventually I gave up.
It is difficult to accept something absolutely free. We think there is something we must do to earn or merit a blessing. The same is true of God’s grace in providing eternal salvation. It is hard for people to accept it because we are prone to think we must earn it. God’s grace says, “I have picked up the tab. I will take care of everything. Accept it. Believe it. It is done.”
For us to try to repay God for His grace in salvation is not only impossible, it is insulting. If I were to have insisted on repaying my generous friend for dinner, it would have been rude and insulting. That is not the proper response to kindness. Yet, that is precisely the way most believers view salvation. They think they earned it, and therefore they think they can lose it.
They go through life wondering, “What if I do this?” “What if I do that?” “What if I turn my back on God?” “What if I walk away from Him?” On and on the reasoning goes in this type of performance-based salvation. To ask such questions is to ask, “Is Jesus a liar?” Jesus plainly stated, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). Period. No strings attached. Eternal salvation is a free gift, received by faith alone in Christ alone, and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39).
Stop insulting God by trying to repay Him for His matchless free grace. And stop worrying about whether or not God will take back what He gave you. If eternal life could ever be lost, for any reason whatsoever, it was never “eternal” in the first place, and Jesus is a liar. Of course, Jesus is not a liar, and God’s grace is sufficient.
If it is free, you cannot work for it. And if you have to work for it, it is not free. Eternal salvation is not based upon our performance. Rest in the wonderful, incomparable grace of our Savior. “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
A few years ago, Wendy and I were having dinner at a restaurant near a church where I was speaking. It was the third day of the conference, and I had spoken several times already. We were enjoying a quiet meal away from the crowds prior to my final message later that evening. As we were wrapping up, a couple from across the dining room recognized me from the event and came over to say hello on their way out. They thanked me for my messages and told us how much the conference had meant to them.
Outwardly I expressed gratitude for their kind words of encouragement. On the inside, however, I am embarrassed to admit that I was frustrated that they were intruding upon our down time and interrupting our private dinner. After a few moments they left. Wendy and I finished our meal, and I asked the server to bring our check.
“Your check has already been taken care of,” the server told me. I said, “What do you mean? Who paid my check?” She responded, “I do not know their names, but it was that couple that came over to your table and talked with you.” “Can I at least pay the tip?” I asked. “That is taken care of as well,” she informed me. You can imagine how ashamed I felt in that moment.
Later that evening, the same couple stopped by our resource table after my message to purchase a book. I thanked them for picking up our tab at dinner. “That was so gracious of you,” I said. “You did not have to do that. Can I at least split it with you?” I offered. “Don’t even think about it,” the gentleman said. “It is our gift to you.” I continued to argue gently with the man, wanting to repay him in some way for his act of kindness. Eventually I gave up.
It is difficult to accept something absolutely free. We think there is something we must do to earn or merit a blessing. The same is true of God’s grace in providing eternal salvation. It is hard for people to accept it because we are prone to think we must earn it. God’s grace says, “I have picked up the tab. I will take care of everything. Accept it. Believe it. It is done.”
For us to try to repay God for His grace in salvation is not only impossible, it is insulting. If I were to have insisted on repaying my generous friend for dinner, it would have been rude and insulting. That is not the proper response to kindness. Yet, that is precisely the way most believers view salvation. They think they earned it, and therefore they think they can lose it.
They go through life wondering, “What if I do this?” “What if I do that?” “What if I turn my back on God?” “What if I walk away from Him?” On and on the reasoning goes in this type of performance-based salvation. To ask such questions is to ask, “Is Jesus a liar?” Jesus plainly stated, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). Period. No strings attached. Eternal salvation is a free gift, received by faith alone in Christ alone, and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39).
Stop insulting God by trying to repay Him for His matchless free grace. And stop worrying about whether or not God will take back what He gave you. If eternal life could ever be lost, for any reason whatsoever, it was never “eternal” in the first place, and Jesus is a liar. Of course, Jesus is not a liar, and God’s grace is sufficient.
If it is free, you cannot work for it. And if you have to work for it, it is not free. Eternal salvation is not based upon our performance. Rest in the wonderful, incomparable grace of our Savior. “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
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