By Faith Not by Works

By Faith Not by Works

Condemned to die on a cross for crimes he had done
He was guilty- everyone could see.
But his destiny was changed as he looked at Christ and said,
"When Your kingdom comes, remember me."
In Paradise that day, he stood
Just like the Lord had said he would
Surrounded by those who had gone before.
One said, "Friend, how did you come? What are the deeds you have done?"
With tears in his eyes, I can hear him reply,
"There are no merits to my name- no works that I can claim. He Who brought me here told me to say...

(Chorus)
I have come by the way of the cross.
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done.
It's the suffering of God's Son.
I have come by the way of the cross."

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.
Hopelessly lost, I could not find my way.
Till His glorious light of love shone down on me.
His mercy washed all my sins away!
And what He did for me that day
Was a price I could not pay.
And by His grace, I too can say- forever say...
(Chorus)

Bridge
I see millions gathered 'round the throne
From every kindred and tongue-
Those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
And as they cast their crowns down at His feet
This will be my story- this will be my song,...
(Chorus "We")

There is no other way.. but the cross!
By the cross! By the cross!

"By the Way of the Cross" the Ruppes.

There's nothing that we do other than to come in faith, believing, that saves us. 

There's no having to do anything more to be saved.  No list of jobs to do. 

Once saved always saved. Once we do come in faith, the Spirit seals us until either we are called to come to our home in Heaven or Jesus returns.  

I heard this song a few years ago and it's lyrics always get me. 

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.
Hopelessly lost, I could not find my way.
Till His glorious light of love shone down on me.
His mercy washed all my sins away!
And what He did for me that day
Was a price I could not pay.
And by His grace, I too can say- forever say...

I have come by the way of the cross.
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done.
It's the suffering of God's Son.
I have come by the way of the cross."

That guy found himself in God's grace and mercy in a heartbeat.  He wasn't baptized. Would never preach a sermon. Would never speak a word to anyone in this world again, yet his choice has been spoken of for over 2,000 years. 

To come to Christ is your choice as well as mine was. Jesus did all the rest of the work to save that man and you and I.  Jesus made the same promise to that man as He does with all of mankind.  

I am in awe of the life that I have lived.  I can say with utter certainty that it's only been because I came to this point in my life by way of the cross. 

I may have went left instead of right or some other such way. I might have caused God to do His Will for me differently than He originally intended, but indeed His Will for me WILL be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Satan loves to get believers to believe that their latest sin was enough to cause God's plans for them to be ruined.  No where in the Bible does it ever say "maybe His Will could be done on Earth as it is in Heaven if we keep our fingers crossed".

In looking at my life and back on my life...I can see and know that His Will is still happening in me.  He loves me too much to stop.  

You cannot work your way into Heaven, but you can simply come by way of the cross.