Salvation is not by works. It means your are not born again because you are good, you are gentle, you don't do bad things to people, you help the poor, you fight for Human Rights etc. none of such things even if they are present in your life brings salvation. Don't get me wrong such things are good. Salvation meaning: It means preservation, deliverance from sin and its consequences.
We uptain salvation the moment we believe that Christ died for us and accept him as our Lord and personal saviour. That very moment onward we are saved, not because of our hard work but by the grace of God.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9
becoming a Christian and being a Christian
There is a big difference between becoming a Christian and being a Christian. This is it, the moment you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you have become a Christian, your sins are forgiven, you are now save. That is why the Bible says if any man is in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away and everything becomes new. Take note all this happens when you become a christian.
Being a Christian Christain is different, it is a work of a life time. This is where work comes in
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. - Romans 6:6.
Now we have to put to death every attitudes of our old self. We are no longer slave to sin, we are free now and the Bible says whosoever the son of man is set free is free indeed. Every deed of the old man still present in us we should do away with it. Being fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence lies, envy, and covetousness etc. God help us as we work continuously into perfection in Jesus name.
Jesus love you
