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From a natural perspective, almost everything we receive in this life is earned, from the money and resources that sustain us to the accomplishments and rewards we pursue. Because of this, many people take pride in being able to support themselves and fulfill their ambitions. On the other hand, others become reluctant to receive help or gifts, believing they must earn everything in their own strength. Although the world portrays these attitudes as admirable, they are spiritually dangerous because they affect how people respond to Christ's gift of salvation.
This danger is of the utmost importance due to mankind's standing before God. Although the Lord created us to worship and fellowship with Him, He never forces us to do so. Instead, He gave us all free will to choose or reject Him. However, Genesis 3 reveals that our first ancestors, Adam and Eve, chose poorly and sinned before God. Not only did this decision introduce suffering and physical death to Creation, but it also caused all mankind to be cursed with a sin-stained nature that killed our spirits. This wretched state, as Romans 3:23, 5:19, and 6:23 note, caused Adam, Eve, and their descendants to inherit a sin nature, fall short of God's perfect glory, and deserve eternal judgment separated from Him. Thus, beyond the sinful thoughts and actions we commit, our inherited sin natures and dead spirits cause us all to stand before God as unrighteous, guilty, and broken people separated from His perfect love and fellowship.
In response to this state, many people believe they can and must earn right standing before God. However, Scripture includes countless examples of others who desperately tried to do so, only to miserably fail. The first example of this is Cain in Genesis 4:3-5, who attempted to gain God's approval through his own efforts. Rather than using the sheep God provided and instructed him to use, Cain instead pridefully sacrificed the crops he grew, causing both his disobedient sacrifice and unrepentant heart to fall woefully short of God's perfect standards. Another example is King Saul, who similarly made an unworthy sacrifice in striving to earn God's favor. 1 Samuel 13 reveals that he fearfully did so in disobedience to God, causing it and his prideful heart to displease Him. One other example of those who futilely attempted to earn salvation are the Pharisees, who strived to make themselves and others follow an exaggerated version of the Mosaic law. Despite their immensely high behavioral standards, Jesus repeatedly pointed out how their prideful thoughts and unrepentant hearts left them as guilty before God as the sinful outcasts of their day. Thus, as these examples prove, our best efforts and good works cannot force our minds to fully yield to God, neither can they cleanse our sin-stained natures.
Thankfully, the salvation we require but can never earn was won and completed by Jesus Christ. John 1:1 and 14 note how He, being the Son of God, came down to Earth as God Incarnate, fully God and fully man. Being born outside of mankind's sinful lineage, 2 Corinthians 5:21 notes how His nature was completely free from sin. Furthermore, Hebrews 4:15 states that despite facing all the temptations we do, Christ never gave into them, living the sin-free life we never could. With His perfection, He gave His life up to be undeservedly beaten, pierced, and crucified for our sakes, as Isaiah 53:5 and Romans 5:8 record. However, 1 Peter 2:24 notes that the greatest pain Jesus endured was taking all humanity's past, present, and future sins upon Himself, causing His Father to pour His righteous wrath upon Him. By becoming the perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God, Christ completely paid our sin debt and offers us this perfect gift of salvation, which we all must choose to receive or reject. Thus, by living the perfect life we never could and giving it up to bear the punishment we deserved, Christ provides the sole way back to God's love and fellowship as a free gift for us to receive.
Although we may take pride in working for our living and accomplishing our desires, there are many things we cannot earn in our own strength, especially salvation and a right standing before God. As Cain, King Saul, the Pharisees, and countless others before us prove, our sinful actions, attitudes, and nature prevent us from reaching God's perfect standards. Thankfully, He never expects us to cross this impossible gap, for Christ has already done so, offering His salvation and a restored relationship with God to all those who come in repentance and faith.
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