Faith

 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Galatians 3:2 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.3.2.ESV

The Galatian church was being troubled by false teachers who said they had to work to earn God's favour. Paul wrote Galatians to challenge this notion. Our salvation is 100% of Christ and 0% of us, thankfully, because if it depended upon us, we wouldn't be saved.

Paul wanted to remind the Galatian church of their salvation, and the fact that their works didn't contribute to it at all. When we're saved, we freely receive the Holy Spirit. We don't earn Him, but receive Him as a free gift.

Salvation is simple. All we need is to hear and to believe the good news of Christ crucified on our behalf. Then we enter into the Kingdom of God.

No works are required to become a Christian. And even as we continue in the Christian life, our works are the Holy Spirit working in us. Our works aren't about us pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.

'Dear God, we're so grateful that our salvation doesn't depend on us. Please forgive us for sometimes deluding ourselves that it does. In Jesus' name, amen'

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