We have to be careful not to make our salvation anything but grace .
I did not repent and come to Christ because I want to rule in His Kingdom..I came because His Spirit drew me to Him and made me his child. I love Him and want to toss my crowns at His feet.. Like the prodigal son I will clean the barn with great joy..
God is not impressed with OUR WORKS, He does take glory in HIS work IN US. Any work that does not flow from Him is nothing more than filthy rags..
A child can not make himself GROW UP , that is a natural function of his dna , our spiritual growth is a natural outcome of our new "spiritual DNA"..because with it comes an incredible love of God and His word.. we will desire to know Him more and to please our dad.. and dad will place those things in our hearts
Christ is the author and finisher of our faith..
Jesus said that you will.
I didn't come to faith in Christ in order to rule in his kingdom either. But he said that we will. And if we wish to, we must learn to be servants.
But as to salvation by grace, definitely, it is by God's grace alone, not by our works that we are saved. We are saved from the penalty of our sin. But what are we saved to? We are saved TO good works that we should walk in them.