but
the GIFT of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV
There is a GIFT waiting for YOU!!!
Unlike wages which are what we earn, a gift is not earned by the person who receives it. A gift is something that we don't deserve.
What if someone gave you a gift, and you tried to pay them for it? If they accepted anything in exchange for what they gave you, it wouldn't be a gift anymore.
Often people will try to earn their way into heaven by trying to be good, by going to church, or living moral lives. Many people believe that if they do more good than bad, God's scales will weigh in their favor. They HOPE that they've done enough of the right things to get to heaven.
God is very clear about what it takes to go to heaven. His standard is perfection. Since we are not perfect (because of our sin) it is IMPOSSIBLE to earn our way into heaven. There has to be another way...
