Titus 3:4-7
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
It's been forty-seven years since I heard that verse for the first time. I remember those words bringing life to me. Especially the part that says “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
I was an eighteen-year-old girl with no knowledge of the Bible, but that truth was clear to me that night as a soulwinner took me off into a room at the First Baptist Church of St. Clair, Missouri and explained to me that all the good things I was trying to do would never be enough for me to get to Heaven.

 You see, I was raised in a church that taught me in order to go to Heaven, my good works would have to out way my bad works. I would have to not steal, not lie, not miss church on Sunday.
I would have to obey and honor my parents, love God more than any other, never use His name in vain. As a young girl it was impossible for me to do all those things. But, that night in February of 1976, I heard that my sins were forgiven, past, present and future sins. I heard for the first time that God loved me in my sins, enough that He sent his Son Jesus to die for my sins.
I’ll never forget those words, “The wages of sin are death but the gift of God is eternal life.” Life forever was the promise, regardless of how I performed. This was a totally new concept for me.
About a year later, I yielded to be baptized again, this time by immersion. Some things really changed in my heart, was I perfect? No, I still sinned, but I was forgiven. The Word of God came alive to me. My first Christmas as a Christian was amazing. Everything made since.

 I realized that what Jesus did on the cross was the basis of my salvation, not my works. I realized that the finished work of Jesus on the cross was what saved me and what kept me saved. For some reason the words “justified by grace,” (just as if I never sinned) came alive in my heart. I realized that I became heirs according to the hope of eternal life. It was no longer faith, plus works that was my ticket to Heaven. It was faith alone in Jesus Christ.
I have been reminded several times in the last forty-seven years, that the work on the cross that Jesus finished the debt for my sins. Nothing I did or could do would allow me to go to Heaven only what He did. Never, ever could I say I did anything to gain eternal life. I can’t even say because I have faith, or I believe, or I gave my life to Christ. I can only say because of what Jesus did on the Cross I can have eternal life.
My security as a believer is only in Christ. I can’t sustain this forgiveness I received. I can’t do enough good to maintain this relationship I have with Christ. It’s all Him. He did it all for me. I have

 a little sign in my house it reads, “Jesus loves you, but I’m His favorite.” I must be His favorite for Him to keep me saved, regardless of the mistakes I make, regardless of how I perform or how many times I fail Him, He keeps me sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
I am reminded of the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He didn’t stop sinning to get to Heaven. He didn’t read his Bible to get to Heaven, he never took communion, he was never got baptized or served in his local church, yet Jesus told him in Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” How did he make it to Heaven just like you and I did. Faith in what Christ did on the cross. We must always remember that it has nothing to do with what we do, but it has everything to do with what Jesus did.
When I meet St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, and he asked me the question, “What did you do to deserve Heaven.” I will have to stand with the thief on the cross and say, “Because, Jesus said I could come, not by my works of righteousness,

 but according to His mercy.” According to Jesus’ kindness, I am justified, (just as if I never sinned) my Jesus’ mercy.
I hope and pray I never forget the day; He forgave me of all my sins, the day He came into my life and changed me forever. It is so important that I never get to thinking, I did anything to earn this life in Christ. My salvation has nothing to do with me, it’s all about Him. The One who gave his life for me. I was nothing before Christ and I am still nothing without Christ working in and through me every single day. I can clearly do nothing without Christ’s love working in and through me. I can’t love my husband without Christ. I can’t love my children or grandchildren without Christ. I can’t teach my Sunday school class or share the love of God with anyone, without Christ.
If we ever get to thinking we are doing good, we will fill up with pride and arrogance. Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

 It is only the cross of Christ that keeps us in Christ. I know that I would have lost my salvation had it not been for the cross and the eternal work Jesus did there. Jesus, my sinless Saviour died on the cross for my sins, I am free from sin, forever because of that. I am free from all my sins, past, present and future because of the shed blood of Jesus.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 says, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
It’s my prayer that we as women of God never get to thinking to highly of our selves least, we fall into the trap of thinking we did something to earn eternal life. It was and still is, all the cross of Christ.