Become what you already are

One great passage of Scripture that is either loved or hated is Eph 2:8-10 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

In this passage we see a beautiful picture of monergism (Greek mono meaning "one" and erg meaning "work"). Salvation as the work of God alone, from first to last. We've been saved by grace through faith but even that faith is a gift (not something we earn) that no one may boast. But it also says we are created FOR good works. Works follow regeneration they don't earn it.

A similar passage is in Phil 2:12 - "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..." We are not told to work for our salvation but to work out what God has already worked in us. Paul Jehle put it this way, "The whole Christian life, when you live it, is learning to become what you already are."