Earning your way

Gal. 3:1 to 5
I have taught my children that in life, you have to earn the things you want. No one will simply give you things. It is what I was taught as well. We earn our way in life, it is a basic, solid life truth; except when it comes to the Gospel. Salvation is the free gift of God, it can never be earned. No charitable acts, no clean living, will ever earn us a place in the Lambs book of life. I'm not sure what it is in the heart and mind of mankind that makes us try and earn Salvation with works of any type. In today's reading, Paul is chastising the church of the Galatians for this very thing. Adherence to the Law and its feasts and traditions is clearly a form of works, any human effort in the salvation process is. These first Christians were converted Jews. It came very natural for them to include a Jewish element with the Gospel. Today we see this most often with the adherence to man made standards God did not give us. Some well meaning person who thinks that Christians should dress a certain way and should abstain from modern worship music are examples. Salvation is now and always has been the free gift of God. Our walk is always to be expressed in loving responsible Liberty. Let no person diminish Gods grace or the finished work of Christ on the cross by adding anything to The Gospel. Grace is freely given, but it’s not free. Jesus paid for it with his life's blood on Calvary. Adding anything to it only serves to cheapen its cost and the one who paid it. To satisfy Gods Holiness, it took the sinless life of his very Son. What more can be added? Let us pray:
Father, Your Holiness required a blood sacrifice. Our Salvation was paid for by Christ. What could be added to such an amazing gift? I can never earn my way to heaven, I fall so short of your Holiness each and everyday. How could a sleeve length or hairstyle do anything to gain me access to Heaven? Only your grace and the all sufficient Atonement of Christ opens access to us. Praise you. I thank you for this gift. In Jesus’ name, Amen.