Grace is bigger than you might think

Too often we try to relate how we behave with our salvation, saying how great we are or thinking about all the nice things we do for others but ultimately we are saved by grace alone and not by the things we do. Ephesians 2 is extremely clear about this.

Eph 2:4-5 AMP "But God is so rich in Mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God's grace that you have been saved.)"

The key is while we didn't deserve it and were already in condemnation He set us free with this gift of Salvation to those who believed, it wasn't by anything we did ourselves, it wasn't for being obedient, it was a 100% free gift, all you have to do is accept it. I know some would argue that if you were Christian you will have fruit and I agree but the fruit doesn't save you, only grace does. The fruit is justification that you are saved because those who are saved will produce good fruit. The fruit is a direct response to salvation and not the other way around.

Eph 2:8 AMP "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this, it is a gift from God"

As you can see that is pretty clear, "you cannot take credit for this, it is a gift from God." So if it is a gift then it is free to all those who will accept it.

Romans 10:9-10 Amp - " For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."

So believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that you are saved. So it isn't by what you do. We all make mistakes and God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but once you realize that salvation is a free gift and once you are sealed in the Spirit, sin no longer can condemn you. Not to say there wont be consequences for your sins, just they no longer have the power to condemn you. Paul said that "sin has lost its sting", meaning it no longer can harm you in the condemnation sense of the meaning.
All throughout the new testament Paul is trying to get people to realize this. He often made mention that it is of God that we are saved and that those of us sealed in the spirit are sealed forever, so don't worry about your salvation, worry about spreading the Word and following God's will for your life.

I didn't start this thread to argue if salvation is permanent, I believe it is. The greek word for sealed is the same used when a king sealed an edict. The significance is that even the King can't remove and edict or law after it has been sealed, nothing can break that seal, so the word is connotative that even God Himself can't remove your salvation. After studying the greek there really is nothing anyone can say to change my mind so don't bother, I just wanted to throw that out there so you understand my perspective. The "Good news" is just that, good news. That anyone can be saved by declaring Jesus is their Lord and savior. Of course then they should be baptized asap but I don't think salvation is contingent on just baptism by water, the real salvation in my opinion is when the Holy Spirit enters them. We don't know exactly when but I know I said the salvation prayer many times and didn't really mean it and nothing happened, but after my God experience everything changed and this time it stuck...so we could argue when one is saved but that wont go anywhere since none of us really know, but one thing is certain, once you have the Holy Spirit there is no turning back. Often people argue that If a saved person went out on a killing spree they would lose their salvation but lets be real, would someone who really knows God do such a thing? Of course not, but Paul did say he could do whatever he wanted in regards to sexual sin but he also said he wouldn't because he wouldn't allow sin to master him...because he served the Lord. So while he was stating he can do anything since he is saved, he chose to do the right thing because he loves God...

I really have a hard time seeing how people can't see this stuff...It is so obvious to me... but then again I had plenty of time to study when I was incarcerated. Rather than continue to be angry with God I took responsibility for my actions and did my time and God even pulled some supernatural strings and got me parole which was a miracle in itself since when I was previously on parole I escaped and got away when they tried to send me back...nothing is impossible with God ...but I am getting off track...my point was that God has everything under control, all you have to do is accept the free gift and be obedient....however your salvation has nothing to do with obedience...we are obedient because we love Him and He blesses us for that.