“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9
Salvation is by grace through faith, a gift to God’s people chosen from the foundation of the world and those whom God transforms by grace inevitably choose to serve Christ. Good works, including our confession of Jesus and our obedience to His commands, follow necessarily from a changed heart.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
God’s grace is not payment for obedience, grace is unmerited favor and according to Eph. 2:10 even our works do not originate with us.
Obviously, we still need this grace even after it first sets us on the true way of Christ in our conversion. We must daily turn to the cross and seek Christ in order that we might finish the race. Our Father gives more grace to all who humble themselves, admit their weaknesses, and ask for strength. James 4:6 says “ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” We do not earn grace by our obedience we are obedient because of grace.