In a world driven by hard work, personal achievement, and self-reliance, the concept of grace often seems too good to be true. Many people, even those who claim to follow Christ, struggle to fully accept the radical message of the Gospel—that salvation is a free gift, unearned and freely offered to all. This struggle isn’t unique to one group or faith. It transcends religious boundaries and can be seen in various belief systems around the world. Interestingly, if we look at the fictional world of the Skaven from Warhammer Fantasy, we can gain valuable insights into why this struggle exists and how it relates to humanity’s deep-seated instinct to “earn” everything.
The Skaven: A Fictional Reflection of Human Struggles
The Skaven are a race of humanoid rats, creatures that live in constant fear and paranoia, with a survival instinct rooted in scheming, manipulation, and deception. Their entire society is built around the idea of "taking" and "earning" through force and cunning. Everything they have must be seized or schemed for, as they believe that nothing is ever given freely.
The Skaven are survivors. Their philosophy is driven by their harsh environment, where trust is scarce, and the law of the jungle reigns. They are shaped by the belief that power and survival come only through effort, manipulation, and constantly being one step ahead of others. In their world, nothing is free. Every reward comes at a price, and that price must be paid with effort, cunning, or outright force.
Interestingly, this mindset mirrors what many people today experience in their own spiritual lives. Like the Skaven, many human beings—whether religious or secular—believe that they must "earn" their way to favor with God or to salvation. This instinct is deeply ingrained in the human psyche. From an early age, people are taught that success, happiness, and even love must be earned through hard work and good behavior. So when it comes to salvation, many find it difficult to grasp the concept of grace: the idea that salvation is offered freely, without any need to earn it.
The Struggle with Grace: A Natural Instinct to Earn Everything
Grace, by definition, is unmerited favor. It is a gift given without expectation of anything in return. Christianity stands in stark contrast to almost every other belief system or worldview because it teaches that salvation cannot be earned—it is a free gift. This is where many people, like the Skaven, struggle. The human instinct is to "earn" everything. Whether it’s a reward at work, academic success, or a relationship, people are conditioned to believe that they must work to deserve what they get. So when it comes to salvation, many wrestle with the idea that they are simply not good enough on their own to be saved, and that they could never be worthy of God’s love.
This challenge isn’t limited to those in other religions; even some who call themselves Christians are trapped in this mentality. Many struggle with the idea that, despite accepting Jesus as the Son of God who died for their sins, they still feel they must earn their salvation through their actions. They believe that faith in Christ is not enough on its own—that they must prove their worth to God through their behavior, good deeds, or strict adherence to religious rituals.
Why Do We Struggle to Trust in Grace?
The root cause of this struggle is a lack of trust. Humans, like the Skaven, are hardwired to distrust anything that comes without strings attached. The Skaven, in their world of constant survival, would find it nearly impossible to trust a message that salvation is free, that everything they need is offered to them without any manipulation or effort on their part. Their nature would make them immediately skeptical of any message that tells them they don’t need to “earn” their salvation. This is the same issue faced by many people today, whether they are religious or not.
We are taught from an early age that we must work for what we want. We must earn respect, love, success, and ultimately, salvation. But the Christian faith teaches something radically different: we cannot earn salvation. The Bible makes it clear that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). No matter how hard we try, we cannot meet the perfect standard of God’s holiness on our own. But God, in His great love, provided a way for us to be redeemed—through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. This gift is offered to us freely, but it requires trust and faith.
Real Christianity: Faith, Not Works
Real Christianity is the only belief system in the world that declares that salvation is entirely based on faith—not works. It teaches that no matter how hard we try, we will never be good enough to earn our way into heaven. Instead, God, in His mercy, has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, AMP)
In Christianity, salvation is not a result of any personal achievement or effort; it is a gift. Christ’s death on the cross paid the price for all our sins—past, present, and future—and all that is required is faith in Him. This is a message that goes against everything human beings naturally believe. It is hard for us to believe that salvation could be freely given, not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Christ has done for us.
The Challenge of Grace: Trusting in the Finished Work of Christ
The real struggle many face when it comes to grace is learning to trust in the finished work of Christ. It’s hard to let go of the idea that we must do something to earn salvation. It’s hard to accept that our sins—no matter how great they are—can be forgiven freely through faith in Jesus. But this is the heart of the Gospel: Jesus, the Arm of God, took upon Himself the punishment for our sins so that we would not have to. It is not about what we do, but about what He has already done for us.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NKJV)
The Skaven and Us: The Struggle to Accept Grace
The Skaven's distrust of grace mirrors the struggle many humans face. They have lived their entire existence believing that they must manipulate and scheme for everything they need. The idea that something could be given freely—without any hidden agenda or cost—is beyond their comprehension. Similarly, many people today, whether they belong to a works-based religion or not, struggle to accept grace because they cannot fathom receiving something so valuable without having to earn it.
But the message of Christianity is clear: You cannot earn it, you do not deserve it, but it is freely given. All that is required is faith in Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and was resurrected to give us eternal life.
Conclusion: Trust in God's Grace, Not Your Effort
The struggle to trust in grace is a common human experience. We are all hardwired to believe that we must earn everything, including our salvation. But Christianity offers a radically different message: you don’t have to earn salvation. Jesus has already paid the price for you. All you need to do is trust in Him, believe in His sacrifice, and accept the free gift of salvation He offers.
Just like the Skaven, we may find it hard to trust in a free gift, but the message of the Gospel is that salvation is available to all who believe—not because we are good enough, but because God is good enough. Trust in Him today, and experience the freedom of grace that transcends works.
The Deception of Earning Salvation: Why Many Are Trapped by Works-Based Faith
When we look at the world today, we see a multitude of belief systems that trick people into thinking that salvation is something that must be earned through effort, good works, or strict religious observance. It is not just the followers of other religions like Hinduism or Islam who struggle with this mindset; even within Christianity, there are groups that distort the Gospel message and place the burden of salvation on the individual’s ability to live holy and to meet certain standards.
Take, for example, groups like Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) or followers of self-proclaimed prophets like David Owuor. While they may profess belief in Jesus Christ, they still propagate the idea that salvation can be earned by living a holy life, adhering strictly to specific rules, and performing religious deeds. They claim that faith in Jesus alone is not enough; you must also live a perfect life to be saved.
This idea is a lie straight from the pit of hell, designed to deceive people into believing that their salvation is dependent on their own works and efforts. Satan wants to keep people trapped in this mindset, because as long as they think they must "earn" their salvation, they will never be able to fully understand the truth of God’s grace.
Prosperity Gospel: The Heart of the Lie
Even within certain branches of Christianity, this twisted understanding of salvation rears its ugly head in what is often referred to as the prosperity gospel. This doctrine teaches that if you live righteously, you will be rewarded with wealth, health, and prosperity. The idea that “faith” and “holiness” can somehow guarantee earthly blessings is a dangerous and deceptive lie. It suggests that God’s love and favor are conditional upon our actions.
The prosperity gospel distorts the core message of the Gospel, which is that salvation is not about earning God's favor through works or behavior—it’s about God’s grace, His unmerited favor. The prosperity gospel falsely equates righteousness with material wealth, making people believe that salvation and God’s love are commodities that can be bought or earned. This idea is a complete contradiction to the Gospel message, which teaches that we are saved by grace through faith and not by anything we can do to "earn" God’s favor.
Living Holy to Please God, Not to Earn Salvation
Real Christianity is about living a life of holiness not to earn salvation but to please God. The moment we understand that salvation is a free gift, unearned and undeserved, it should radically change our approach to holiness. We do not live holy lives because we think we can "pay God back" for our salvation. Instead, we live holy lives because we love God and because His sacrifice for us is so immense that it moves us to want to please Him.
This is the heart of Christianity: a relationship with God, not a system of rules to follow in order to gain favor. As Christians, we know that no matter how hard we try, we can never repay God for what He has done for us. But our response to His love is obedience—a desire to live in a way that reflects His character and His grace. It’s not about earning anything; it’s about expressing gratitude and love for the one who gave everything for us.
Christianity: Not a Religion, But a Relationship
One of the key distinctions of Christianity, compared to other religions like Islam, is that Christianity is not a religion—it is a relationship. In Islam, believers view themselves as slaves of Allah, constantly trying to meet the demands of their god in the hopes of earning favor. The relationship is one of fear and servitude. But in Christianity, we are children of God, called into a loving, familial relationship with the Creator.
God is not a distant, demanding slave-owner who requires constant effort from His followers. Rather, He is a loving Father who desires a deep, personal relationship with His children. Christianity is about intimacy with God, not about constantly striving to meet some unattainable standard. Once you say "yes" to Christ, He adopts you into His family, and this is a love that is unconditional and everlasting.
In fact, I have personally experienced this profound truth in a very meaningful way. God used the world of Warhammer Fantasy to remind me that He is not a distant, unapproachable God, but a Good Father. The characters in Warhammer, though fictional, served as a mirror to show me the importance of trusting in God’s love and grace. In my own heart, God used this imagery to teach me that once I accepted Him as my Savior, He became my Father.
Ishi, not Baali—this simple but powerful shift in perspective helped me understand that God is a loving husband, not a harsh slave owner. It was as if God was telling me, “I am your Ishi, your beloved Husband. I am not your Baali, your Master who commands you to serve without love.” This understanding has changed my life and helped me grow closer to God in a way that nothing else could.
The Unique Faith of Christianity: A Relationship Built on Grace
This understanding of God as a loving Father is a core tenet of Christianity and is something that sets it apart from all other faiths. Unlike Islam, where believers are expected to follow commands in the hope of earning favor, in Christianity, we are children of God who have been adopted into His family through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
When we understand this, it becomes clear: Christianity is not about earning salvation through works, holiness, or adherence to laws. It is about having a personal relationship with a loving Father who has already done the hard work for us. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid the price for our sins on the cross, and in return, we are offered forgiveness and eternal life, not because of our deeds, but because of His love.
This message is unique to Christianity. No other faith offers a relationship with God as Father. No other faith teaches that salvation is not about striving to earn favor, but about accepting a free gift of grace.
Conclusion: A Radical Trust in God’s Grace
As Christians, we should reject any teachings that tell us salvation is something we must earn through works, whether it’s prosperity gospel, the doctrines of groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses or David Owuor’s followers, or any other belief system that distorts the core of the Gospel. We do not need to live holy lives in order to earn God’s love or salvation. We live holy lives because we are loved and because we want to please God, not out of fear of rejection but out of gratitude for His immense grace.
In Christianity, we find the truth: salvation is not earned; it is a gift. We are children of God, not slaves. Our relationship with God is built on grace, not on anything we can do to prove ourselves. And when we fully embrace this truth, it transforms our lives, just as it has transformed mine.
If you're still trying to earn your way to God, let me remind you of the truth: you can never be good enough, but Jesus has already paid the price. He is your Ishi, your beloved Husband, and He is waiting for you to accept His love. Say "yes" to His grace today and experience the freedom of a relationship with the Good Father, who loves you unconditionally and invites you to be part of His eternal family.
