Most religions declare that if you follow a certain set of guidelines, rules, or laws, then you should have a good chance of “making it.” In essence, they say, you have to work for it and if you do not work hard enough at it then you will not make it. Even many Christian denominations and cults believe this and claim that you can lose your salvation because of sin or a lack of works.

The other kind of religion, which is based purely on the Bible, teaches that all the work needed has already been done for you. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law while living on earth, and then He gave Himself for a sacrifice for all. According to the Bible, the way that someone gets saved is by believing on what Christ has done for you. You receive salvation as a free gift as seen in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Bible repeatedly states that salvation is a gift from God. Because God is good, He made salvation free to those that will receive it as a gift. Those who refuse His gift do not have eternal life and they cannot get it on any other terms. Paul reveals that salvation cannot be by grace and by works because the two terms are contradictory: “And if” (salvation is) “by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Ro. 11:6).

Paul also declares that “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). He also said – when the Holy Spirit spoke through him: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law” (good deeds),” but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified“ (Gal. 2:16).

As these verses reveal, if you are trusting in good works to get into Heaven, you are trusting in the wrong thing. Christ did all the work necessary for salvation. Trust Him alone and ask Him to forgive and save you because you cannot save yourself. Once you do, Christ promises to give you eternal life.