We are not saved through the works that spring from receiving Jesus as Lord .......we are saved through the trust that ‘receives Jesus as Lord’...... Trust precedes actions,... and it is this trust that is at the heart of saving faith. .....You rely on Him as your savior AND Lord. ...in order to have Jesus as Savior you must have Jesus as boss.
It’s kind of like drowning at sea and a lifeguard comes to rescue you. Of the coast guard in their high seas rescue.
You can believe that he can save your life, and you can try to help him which only makes matters worse. You have to just let him do the work of saving your life. Your only contribution is to let him do it. You believe that he can and let him do the work.
All three of my kids were lifeguards and were taught to rescue people by putting them in positions where they COULDN’T try to help the lifeguard because their flailing around only makes matters worse.
Intellectual assent, knowing that the lifeguard can save you does no good unless you LET him do it and that means letting go of your own efforts to help the situation.
The only thing that can pay for sin is death, the shedding of blood. We can shed our blood and die but that is only paying the penalty for our sin, it does not save us.
Since Jesus was perfect and had no sin, when He died, He was able to conquer death and over come it. That is credited to our account if we simply ask for it. Just let the work He did be credited to our account and let HIM save you. You can’t do it yourself any more than a person drowning at sea can save themselves.