The miracle of salvation is that it is offered to sinners. When we were still enemies with God, Jesus died for us. It is His grace in salvation that moves us towards good works for His glory and praise.
Observations:
- The timing of God’s gift of salvation is “when we were dead”
- The category of “grace” is communicating…
A. …our underservedness & wretchedness
B. …God’s love & riches - The category of “works” is communicating…
A. …a confidence in what we merit through the law
B. …Spirit empowered Christlikeness prepared by God - Faith is the evidence of a belief that trusts in God’s work
Conclusions:
- The work that saves is God’s gracious-work not ours
- This gracious-work of God is transformative
- The work that evidences salvation is God’s gracious-work through us
- There is a future incalculable expression of God’s blessings secured by grace for all those who evidence the gift of faith by trusting in Jesus
Application:
- Trust in God & take the leap!
- Thank God for His work by seeking out good works
- Demonstrate a balance of “good works” that come from God’s good work
Ezekiel 18:21-22
“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.”
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”
Romans 7:24
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”
Philippians 3:4-6
“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
Philippians 2:12-13
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Galatians 2:15-16
“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”
Acts 26:20
“First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”
Romans 11:5-6
“So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”
Titus 3:3-5a
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
John 5:24
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
1 Peter 1:3-5
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”