You are save by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, yet it is not your faith but the graces of God who gives you this faith that saves you.
Obedience comes as a result of the manifestation of Grace from God. It is the fruit of repentance and you can't take credit for your obedience.
Our obedience doesn't please God when we think it will make us some what more spiritual
We are save by grace through faith and not of obedience so that no one could boast about their obedience.
Yet we can't help it but to obey.
Do we enjoy putting Christ back to the cross? God forbid it! For who can resist His grace?
Our obediences are compel by His love. Not that we love God but that He loves us first.
He is the author of love we are not. We are but self-centered creature who knew not love and one heading for destruction should He not sustain us according to his good pleasure.
Yet if we do fall we will get up again for our Lord is a merciful God. He will not let our soul see decay.
Ephesians 2:8
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
A person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.
No one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.
Galatians 2:16
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”[a]
The only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.
John 6:29
New Living Translation (NLT)
29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
Human effort accomplishes nothing.
John 6:63-65
New Living Translation (NLT)
63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
Apart from Christ you can do nothing.
John 15:5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he (A)bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
When you obey God you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.
Luke 17:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness.
Titus 3:5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 (A)He saved us, (B)not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but (C)according to His mercy, by the (D)washing of regeneration and (E)renewing by the Holy Spirit,
God counted Abraham as righteous because of his faith.
Romans 4:3-5
New Living Translation (NLT)
3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[a]4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit
Romans 2:29
29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise[d] from God, not from people.
Whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [b](C)by the strength which God supplies
1 Peter 4:11
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
11 (A)Whoever speaks, is to do so [a]as one who is speaking the (B)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [b](C)by the strength which God supplies; so that (D)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, (E)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 2:3-9
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 Among them we too all (A)formerly lived in (B)the lusts of our flesh, [a]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the [b]mind, and were (C)by nature (D)children of wrath, (E)even as the rest. 4 But God, being (F)rich in mercy, because of (G)His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were (H)dead [c]in our transgressions, made us alive together [d]with Christ ((I)by grace you have been saved), 6 and (J)raised us up with Him, and (K)seated us with Him in (L)the heavenly places in (M)Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing (N)riches of His grace in (O)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For (P)by grace you have been saved (Q)through faith; and [e]that not of yourselves, it is (R)the gift of God; 9 (S)not as a result of works, so that (T)no one may boast.
It is impossible to obey the laws of God
James 2:10
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 For whoever keeps the whole [a]law and yet (A)stumbles in one point, he has become (B)guilty of all.
Romans 7:21-25
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[a] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
We can never please God in our Sinful nature!
Romans 8:7-8
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Galatians 2:19-21
New Living Translation (NLT)
19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse
Galatians 3:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”[a]
Galatians 3:19
New Living Translation (NLT)
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
Philippians 3:9
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
9 and may be found in Him, not having (A)a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, (B)the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers[a] with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
Acts 15:5-11
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers[a] with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian
Galatians 3:24-25
New Living Translation (NLT)
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
We obey God out of the overflowing joy of God's Love in us not out of fear for perfect love expels all fear
1 John 4:16-19
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[a] because he loved us first.
2 Corinthians 5:14
New Living Translation (NLT)
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[a] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[b]
God works to cause his elect to persevere.
We are not left to ourselves and our assurance is very largely rooted in the sovereign love of God to perform that which he has called us to do. 1 Peter 1:5, "By God's power we are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Jude 24-25, "Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
"May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."
Philippians 1:6
"And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Philippians 2:12-13
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 So then, my beloved, (A)just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your (B)salvation with (C)fear and trembling; 13 for it is (D)God who is at work in you, both to will and to work (E)for His good pleasure.
1 Corinthians 1:8-9
"Jesus Christ will sustain you to the end; guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God
Romans 9:30-33
30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law[a] instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
The Israelite tried to follow God's standard but was not made right with Him.
Romans 10:1-13
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[b] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.[c] 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,“The message is very close at hand;it is on your lips and in your heart.”[d] And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[e] 12 Jew and Gentile[f] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[g]
Romans 11:5-8
New Living Translation (NLT)
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel[a] have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. 6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. 8 As the Scriptures say,
“God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
and closed their ears so they do not hear.”[b]
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
and closed their ears so they do not hear.”[b]
Therefore we should be zealous to make our calling and election sure.
2 Peter 1:10, "Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
Charles Spurgeon
One week-night, when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher's sermon, for I did not believe it. The thought struck me, "How did you come to be a Christian?" I sought the Lord. "But how did you come to seek the Lord?" The truth flashed across my mind in a moment—I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, How came I to pray? I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. How came I to read the Scriptures? I did read them, but what led me to do so? Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, "I ascribe my change wholly to God" (AUTOBIOGRAPHY, pp. 164-5). (Charles Spurgeon)
John Piper
I don't like it when pastor say "we have a better service here, people come here to give instead to get. Everybody is coming to get what we all have is people to come and give on sunday morning". That is baloney! I want hungry people, starving people. I don't want you to give me anything or give God anything. I want you to come on a quest to get God and all of God that they can get. That what worship is for! I think God is honour by broken people gathering together desperate for God... Just desperate! Rather than full happy bubbly people who gather and look like every thing is totally ok. God is greatly honour when He is treated like a fountain and like living bread and every body come into this room is about to die of thirst. And if they don't get Him they die. That's a huge honour to God!
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/conference-messages/desiring-god-session-2
~John Calvin
As God has given Himself to us to be enjoyed only in Christ, He is elsewhere sought for in vain
~John Calvin
"The more a man shall lift up himself, the further he shall go from God."
~D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Religion is man searching for God; Christianity is God seeking man, manifesting Himself to him, drawing Himself unto him.
~Thomas Manton
“Works before conversion cannot engage God, and works after conversion can not satisfy God."
~Joseph Alleine
~Joseph Alleine
“When men trust in their own righteousness they do indeed reject Christ's.”
~Charles Hodge
"The doctrines of grace humble man without degrading him and exalt him without inflating him."
Further Reference:
If you can lose your salvation then what must you do to keep it
What is salvation?
Why I hate religion - Mark Driscoll
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