Skip to main content

The Gospel of Grace and Works by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     Over the last several weeks, we have seen from Ephesians 2:1-7 that the gloriously good news of the gospel grows out of the ashes of the horrifically tragic news of human rebellion against God. And we have seen that the grace of God in Christ toward all who belong to and believe in him is so great as to be incomprehensible and utterly awe-inspiring.
     This week we conclude our four-part meditation on Ephesians 2:1-10 by considering Paul’s closing words, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:8-10). 
     That God saved us while we were dead in our trespasses and rightly destined to experience his eternal wrath is owing to his grace and not to our works. That God made us alive with Christ, raised us up with Christ, seated us with Christ in the heavenly places, and made us instruments of the eternal exaltation of Christ is owing to his grace and not to our works. Indeed, God did not even take into consideration the “good things” we had done prior to knowing him when he decided to choose us for himself. Rather, he chose us according to his own wisdom and grace so that we would literally be incapable of boasting in ourselves rather than in him for all eternity. 
     As Paul explains, we are God’s workmanship and not our own. God crafted us in Christ for himself; we did not make of ourselves an offering to God. This fact further kills the impulse toward self-exaltation in the human heart, for how can we possibly boast in self when we are the work of God in Christ? 
     So profound is the action of God upon us in the salvation of our souls, that he is even responsible for the good works we do in him and for the glory of his name. In the moment, it may seem like we choose to worship his name or love his people or preach the gospel or reach out to the least of these, and in a sense this is true. But the reason we want to serve God and are able to do so is because he handcrafted our worship, love, and service from before the foundation of the world. This even further kills the impulse toward self-exaltation in the human heart, for how can we boast in what God so graciously enables us to desire and do? 
     Since the gospel of grace produces good works that flow from the grace of God and do not constitute works that earn us favor with God, Paul concludes by asserting that we were created in Christ to walk in these works. Or to put it in John’s language, God made us to praise the God of light by walking with him in the light. So, Beloved, let us be ever grateful for the grace of God in Christ by ever walking in the will and ways of Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Worship Songs, October 15, 2017

By
We post these worship songs leading up to the worship service so that parents may listen to them in the house or in the car within the days leading up to the worship service. Our hope is that children will hear the songs prior to and it will prepare them to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. My Redeemers Love Hope Has Come I Will Glory In My Redeemer Blessed Be Your Name Here In Your Presence Your Glory Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) -- Sermon Text: John 11:1-16 That the next generation will set their hope in God and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7).
Post a Comment
Read more

God Displays His Beauty While Lifting Heavy Burdens by Pastor Kevin

By
I know I am a little bit overweight. My doctor tells me so. The mirror that I look into affirms it and the scale (that I mostly avoid) reminds me every time I step on it. All of that makes what I am about to say so much more impressive. I had the privilege of sitting on the beaches of Florida's Atlantic coast for 8 days on our most recent family trip. For me there is something magical about the beach, especially on the Atlantic side with the waves washing up against the shoreline. We have been lucky enough to find a sleepy beach town to vacation at. A nook, if you will, that typically features retired folks or families with kids. Out of the way of those who want to party, the beach is truly a relaxing place for me.  Let me tell you something that I gleaned this time around that never quite landed on me. This last week it landed on me, almost literally. My son Ben and I are the more adventurous specimens in the Feder five. We actually get into the salty water where there are jelly f...
2 comments
Read more

We Will Feast in the House of Zion by Patience Griswold

By Anonymous
No one ever plans to have their lives upended. We know that the world is broken and bound in futility, we know that everything can change in an instant, and yet crises still have the ability to shake us to our core. None of us entered 2020 planning to experience a global pandemic this year, but here we are, practicing social distancing, wondering how the virus will affect us and our families, and wondering when we will be able to return to our regular rhythms and routines as what can feel a little like the world falling apart around us.  In the midst of social distancing, I miss my church family. I miss my Bible study, the kids in my Sunday school class, the ability to meet people for coffee, and I know that I am not alone in this. It is not wrong to grieve the temporary loss of these things. In fact, we ought to grieve, even as we seek to live joyfully and find satisfaction in Christ in the midst of difficult circumstances. If we feel no grief whatsoever over the loss of some...
1 comment
Read more