Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Q. Is a "Gift" earned?
Definition: 1) something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned. 2) something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone,
Bestow: To store or house
A. Not according to its definition
So, then, according to scripture, God "stores" or "houses" His salvation within us of His own free will and desire.
It is a "gift" so that no man can boast of having deserved, acquired by works, or having earned it.
Q. So, does that mean you can not earn your way into heaven?
A. According to scripture, No. you can NOT.
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
We can not get into heaven though our own righteousness which can be earned by works. Even in our best state our "righteousness" is as filthy rags before God (Isa 64:6). The truth is there is no righteousness of ourselves. If there were, we wouldn't have needed Jesus to come and die in our place. We are qualified to be received, however, through the Righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ who IS the righteousness of God for us. "...we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1)
The Bible states that even the "Righteous" will "Scarely" be saved.
Scarely: barely; hardly (dictionary.com)
It won't be easy. We must endure chastisement and correction. Remember, we are not already righteous. We have to learn righteousness through Christ, which is the Word of God and be willing to be corrected.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
So, we must be "Obedient" to the Gospel of truth, which came through Jesus, as well as the Call of God for our lives. In other words, we must live righteousness. For we will be and already are judged by the Word of God. We must obey the Voice of God. For we are justified by Faith; not just “Faith” but Faith in Christ.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
By undertaking to DO the "Deeds" which are written in the laws of God is NOT enough to become justified before God. Even if you were able to keep each one perfectly, you could not be made perfect before God.
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested...
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Jesus Christ IS the Righteousness of God. The only way we can be made righteous before God is by believing and receiving Him. He IS the Righteousness of God. He IS our justification before God. So, then righteousness and justification comes through Faith in Christ Jesus.
Likewise, God's Righteousness is made known without the law. You don't need the law to become the "Righouteous(ness)" which is of God. For the law was made to expose and condemn sin. God shows up outside the law. God is "Love" and there is no law against Love.
2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
His laws are written in our "Heart".
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
Such trust we have Through Christ toward God.
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
We don't have within ourselves the ability to become sufficient before God. But our sufficiency is of and from God. How? Through Faith in Christ and by His Spirit.
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [which is the law], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit gives life.
Again, the letter is written to reveal and destroy sin in our flesh. But the Spirit gives life and comfort to our souls. This is why Jesus told Nicodemas, "You must be born Again...of the water and of the Spirit". Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not [don't be amazed] that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
There must be a regeneration from the inside, from within our hearts. There must be a godly sorrow and repentance or a "turning away from" our sins in order for a regeneration to take place in our hearts and the redemption of our souls back to God. This comes through acknowledgement of our sins through conviction of the Holy Spirit, which also brings life. As it is written, "...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
It is the spirit that quickeneth [makes alive or gives life]; the flesh profiteth nothing [there is no profit in the flesh]: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are [give] life. [Jesus Christ] -- John 6:63
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
