A Christadelphian Video: Ephesians 2:8–9 reads, “For by grace ye are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (KJV) Wrong thinking! Many people think that they can earn salvation by the things they do. This is not true. Even though the apostle Paul says that he worked hard for the Lord, he knew that this would not save him in the end. Salvation is God’s gift, and a gift cannot be earned. But wages are earned, and Paul tells us that we earn death: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). As we have already learned, we deserve death because we sin, but God offers us salvation from this through His grace. God does not give us salvation as a reward for doing more good than bad in our lives. Our good behaviour and good deeds do not earn God’s blessings, because forgiveness of sins and immortal life are God’s gifts. They cannot be earned or bought in any way. God has: “… saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9). The apostle Paul says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). Ephesians 1:7 explains: “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace”. The apostle Paul thanks God for the gift of the Lord Jesus who can save us from sin: “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).