Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Penance, pilgrimages, the recital of mantra prayers and good works done, as a means of righteousness, as well as every other effort to believe or to portray oneself as being righteous, without God in the midst, is the equivalent of Ishmael of whom Abraham once said “Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee” . Even though the righteousness, which is by faith in Jesus, leads us to obey God, obedience must never take the place of the promise, for whenever this is the case, vestiges of Ishmael would not be too far behind.
In other words, good works are never to replace our faith, at any time in our experience, but rather, we should understand, that salvation is, and will always be a gift from God to persons, imputed, imparted, and counted unto us as righteousness. Always!
God has accepted Christ in our behalf, and the promise of eternal salvation centers squarely upon this Gift. We were not around when Adam sinned, yet we partake of his sinfulness as the Scripture says: We sinned in Adam. The same is true of Jesus Christ, for we were not around when He poured out His life for us on Calvary, yet we partake of His righteousness by faith, and that’s the reason why God accepts Christ’s life and sacrifice as sufficient mediation for those who believe.
Galatians 2: 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!