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How do we know salvation cannot be earned?

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Scripture shows that salvation is a gift from God and cannot be purchased or earned through works.

The Bible teaches that salvation is entirely a gift of God's grace, as articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9: 'For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' This underscores that attempting to earn God's favor, as Simon Magus did by offering money for the Holy Spirit, is a grave misunderstanding of the nature of God's grace. The gifts of God, including repentance and faith, are not commodities that can be traded or bought; rather, they are essential acts of divine mercy that cannot be merited by one's own efforts or worth. Romans 5:15 further reinforces that the gift of God is a free gift that excludes human merit or payment.
Scripture References: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:15

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