Christianity is a relationship with God that was designed to thrive on God’s grace, and not on human effort or strength. However, many people’s misunderstanding of what underlies it has led to concerted human efforts being expended on trying to live the Christian life (to no avail of course ). The result of the above-mentioned approach to Christianity has been the existence of a parody of the real thing.
    It is important to note that, if it were possible for human beings to please God in their strength, God would never have gone to all the trouble He went to in order to save man. What it cost God to provide salvation for humanity is incalculable in human terms. The reason being that, the entry of sin into human history did not only corrupt man’s behaviour, but also corrupted his nature. Mankind essentially became evil. Genesis chapter 6 verse 5 describes this condition as follows: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
    Therefore, any attempt by human beings to please God, apart from the means He has provided for that, only further confirms their sin-inspired arrogance towards God. Jesus Himself said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn 14:6). Furthermore, Hebrews 10:19,20 says, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,”. To bypass this approach, then, in an endeavour to reach and unite with God, is the height of pride in man.
    People can experience salvation and become Christians, only on God’s terms, which is, by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). What this means is that mankind must rely on God’s grace in order to be saved. Well, what exactly is ‘God’s grace ‘? It is God’s redemption at Christ’s expense. It is what John 3:16, puts in the following words, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  2Corinthians 5:21, corroborates it by saying, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Therefore, God’s grace is His unmerited favour bestowed on a person, which empowers him or her to become, do or have what would otherwise have been impossible.
    Consequently, the way to becoming a Christian is to acknowledge and embrace God’s sacrificial provision for salvation, which is the finished work of Christ. This is what Romans 10:9 means by saying, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” We would do well to keep in mind this definitive approach to obtaining salvation in Christ Jesus, because, it is  not just the way in, but the way forward as well. This means that from the point at which you receive salvation from God by grace through faith, everything else you ever receive from God will always be by the same means. Shalom.