Isaiah 55:1-3
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.(ESV)
That which satisfies cannot be earned. That which can be purchased will never satisfy. Grace is the only way to fulfillment. There are many attempting to live out something they call Christianity through what they can do. If they can learn enough they will arrive. If they can discipline themselves to pray, read their Bible, go to church, tithe, you name it, then they will mature. Neither learning or doing produce growth. Salvation is a work of grace from start to finish. This doesn’t mean I have no part to play or that my part doesn’t make a difference. I do and it does. But salvation is a work of grace. This means that salvation doesn’t depend upon what I know or what I do. Salvation depends upon what He has done.
If the things I learn and the things I do are not based upon Christ’s finished work then no lasting spiritual progress can be made. Faith without works is dead. This is unquestionably true. But faith is not “in” my works. Faith points to something beyond me. My faith is in Christ and in His full, finished and final provision – His death, resurrection, and ascension. Faith without works is dead, not because of the merit of works but rather because of the merit of what Christ has accomplished. Faith rightly aimed at Christ receives a grace that transforms. Works evidence this transformation, the grace which causes the transformation, and the faith which receives the grace that transforms.
So I come with nothing to receive something. There is no cost. It cannot be earned. But what I receive in this way truly satisfies.
