Why Grace is Given

“For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.”

- Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Hat Tip: Of First Importance

Picture from Wikipedia article.

Why People Try to Be Good

"The Christian is in a different position from other people who are trying to be good. They hope, by being good, to please God if there is one; or — if they think there is not — at least they hope to deserve approval from good men. But the Christian thinks any good he does comes from the Christ-life inside him. He does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a greenhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the sun shines on it."

- C. S. Lewis

Hat Tip: Christians in Context: from orthodoxy to orthopraxy