IT IS BY GRACE THAT WE ARE SAVED

PROCLAMATION

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk I them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, in a letter to the believers in the church at Ephesus.  Paul began this second chapter by telling them that they were lost in sin, following the ways of the world, until they were saved by the grace of God. (Ephesians 2:1-6)  He told them that they were saved by grace through faith.  Their salvation was a gift from God, and it had nothing to do with their work or anything that they did.  Paul went on to tell them that they were once separated far from Christ, but now they have been brought near to Christ by the blood that He shed on Calvary. (Ephesians 2:12-13)  Now they are no longer foreigners, they are fellow citizens with God’s chosen people and members of His family. (Ephesians 2:19-20)

 

APPLICATION

Our salvation is based solely upon our belief in Jesus, The Christ.  We did nothing to earn it.  It is a gift from God by His grace.  The favor of God’s grace is bestowed upon us and it is unmerited and undeserved.  We were created in Christ as believers to do good works, to give God glory, but the good works is not what saves us.  The Lord God has prepared us to do good work and “… He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)  So let us keep on working for The Lord while we can, (John 9:4) and let us do the very best that we can, (Ecclesiastes 9:10) because one day we will make the transition from labor to reward.  On that day in death we will be absent from the body and present with The Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)