Saved by Grace unto Works

Ephesians 2:1–10 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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.

Dead in trespasses and Sins

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

were dead - past tense pre Christ existance but not after

Past life old man

once you were just like everyone else in the world

obedient to satan

you were the same as those still lost in sin the sons of disobedience

lived for the passions of the flesh and the desires of the body and the mind

by nature children of wrath destined for destruction

Thus death and hell are not punishments given by a hateful God but rather the natural eternal state of ones sins in this life. You are already dead in your sins

Time is now up for that kind of life you gave it up for a better life the life of Christ. Its funny how people will tell you their addiction drunkeness, gambling adultury lying theft or whatever other sin is so great and good and fun and you should do it too meanwhile they are losing everything around them and always seem to be hunting the next thrill the next thing to make them happy. Meanwhile those who trust in Jesus and seek to give up those sinful ways and live according to his word have a peace and joy that others envy.

Do not be fooled by Satan these sinful ways lead to death and destruction turn and follow Christ. Let us not continue in the ways of death let us seek life.

God’s Gift of Life

Ephesians 2:4–9 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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.

God -rich in mercy deserved death mercy says he witholds the punishment we deserve thus we do not get death but instead recieve life

great love

God loves you so much he sent Jesus Christ to die for your sins and to give you new life that you might live forever in the presence of God

When we were dead in our trespasses - doesnt wait for us to get right he saves us when we are still in rebellion

not only saved by mercy but by Grace - Grace says he gives us blessings beyond what we deserve thus paul says God in his grace gives us heaven and much more to come.

that indeed even salvation itself is a gift of Gods grace because we did not earn it

Thus no one can boast about salvation it is a gift from God through grace.

Grace and works the dilemma

Thus enters the dilemma if Paul says salvation is by grace and not works then why does James write James 2:18

James 2:18 ESV

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

In answer to this question I would suggest we look closely at what both Paul and James are saying and we find they really same the same thing

First Paul says Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are the workmanship of God - made by God anything made has a purpose

what were we made to do

Created in Christ Jesus for Good works

We were made for Good works

We are supposed to do good works.

Holy living giving to the poor all the things James is concerned about when he speaks of faith without works being dead paul says we were made to do these things

But notice the timing here,

this happens not at our first birth but our second when we recieve new life in Jesus

Thus paul says this is after our salvation.

Paul would say the timeline goes like this we are dead in our sins then saved by faith then we do good works.

Now look again at James

James 2:14–18 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James here says the person claims to have faith but does not have works he then denies to do good to others thus James says his faith is dead

so which came first faith or works.

The answer lies in the example of Abraham James uses he speaks of two things his act of offering up Issac on the altar and the statement that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.

Again faith comes first Abraham trusted God then his faith was tested and his actions proved his faith

Thus James timeline would look like this one has faith and then that faith is tested or proven by works. thus works serve as proof of salvation.

Therefore we can see James and Paul both agree we are saved by our faith by our belief in God yet that faith naturally leads to good works. And if your supposed faith does not lead to good works then it is not true faith but instead false and thus you are still dead in your sins and trespasses.

Invitation

So before Christ our natural condition is a state of death and deserving of hell and eternal seperation from God.

Yet in his grace and mercy God gave us salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. If one will admit their sins turn from them and back to God accepting Jesus Christ death on the Cross as payment for their sins and making him lord of their life they can be saved, and recieve life and get to live forever with God in heaven.

As part of that new life we are to live holy lives doing good works to the glory of God and to prove our salvation.

My question for you then is have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior or are you still lost in you sin and death. Will you choose life this morning. For those who claim faith in him do your actions prove your faith or not if someone looked watched your life on the big Screen would they be convinced of your salvation? Is your faith genuine or do you need true faith or maybe you once were doing right but have fallen away and now simply need to repent and seek to do the will of God again. Will you choose to follow God today?