Read Ephesians 2:8-10

This morning we are going to study one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

This is one of the greatest evangelistic passages in the Bible.  It makes so very clear that God is the only One who can save us, that this salvation is a gift, it is not of works, it is by grace, and we receive it through faith.  Verse tenthen makes it plain that God is at work in the life of every Christian to shape Him into a trophy of His grace, created for the purpose of doing good works.  

vs. 8 – This verse summarizes, into one succinct statement, the basis for all of the blessings thus described. It is all because of God’s grace.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith.” The agency through which God’s grace is focused is thus noted. It is faith in Jesus Christ.  The two concepts are interrelated.  Because we are altogether lost, it is only by the grace of God that there is any hope of salvation.  Our only recourse therefore is in simple faith to trust Him and His grace. Because salvation is by God’s grace, the only means of appropriating it unto ourselves is by turning to Him and trusting in Him. Therefore, it is not of ourselves. It is zero percent of us and one hundred percent of God. Because of His wonderful grace and mercy, it is the gift of God. A gift by its very nature is offered through the grace of the giver. By its very nature, a gift is not earned, nor is it compensation.  Rather, it is free. It therefore can only be obtained by freely receiving it. The gospel is profound in its simplicity. It is as simple as reaching out and receiving a free gift.

vs. 9 - Moreover, our salvation is "Not of works, lest any man should boast.” The word translated as ‘boast’ is most commonly rendered as ‘glory.’  The thought is simple. If we could merit salvation through some type of work, then we could claim the glory rather than God. But it is not of works. Therefore, only God can receive glory for saving us.

vs. 10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  The verse begins with 

‘for’ (gar).  It is a leading conjunction.  That is, it leads the thought forward to a related conclusion.  That conclusion is that “we are his workmanship.”  The word so translated has the idea of ‘that which He has made,’ ‘His creation,’ ‘His production.’ He not only saved us, but He has alsomade us a new creature in Christ. Thus, we have been “created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”  God’s purpose in saving us, in part, was that we might serve Him thereafter. We are not saved by good works. But we surely have been saved to do good works thereafter. God has thus “...before ordained that we should walk in them.”  God’s will, His predestinated plan, is for us to live our lives in serving Him.  Predestination is as simple as that.  That is very clear throughout the New Testament.  See I Corinthians 15:58 and Titus 3:1,8.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

  1.  What did you do to deserve God's grace?  What kinds of things can anyone do to deserve God's grace?

  2.  Did you ever turn down God's gift before you were saved? Why?

  3.  What does it mean to be saved through faith?

  4.  What is the relationship between grace and faith?

  5.  Could we be saved through faith without God's grace?  Or could we be saved through God's grace without faith?  Why?

  6.  Can anyone be good enough to be saved on his own merit?

  7.  Can you take credit for any good thing that you have—apart from God?