Your Works Can't Get You There

Introduction

We live in a world where we are constantly being encouraged to “make your own way/path”

We hear that to be independent is made a priority

We are encouraged to be “self-sufficient”

We learn about DIY’s (Do It Yourself)

We are subtly being trained to trust no one but yourself

Neighbourhoods are becoming disconnected

Neighbours are becoming reclusive

People are getting more isolated

We are taught to look out and see about me; work hard for what you want

For the HOUSE, FINANCES, ASSETS, STABILITY, BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

I would have you know while we can work for a lot of things in this life. . . YOU CANNOT WORK FOR HEAVEN.

Your works can’t get you there!!!

Before the church folk start saying “Amen” this reminder is for us too.

We must notice the problem with the notion that “works will save me” or “being good will save me”

God says

Rom 3:10 “as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;”

Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Isa 64:6 “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

Your good works can’t save you

Works of the law can’t save you

Only grace will save

The amazing reality about salvation is that we caused the problem, and God fixes it even when we’re in a position He is intolerant to.

We can call that GRACE

It is the thing that prompts God to save who doesn’t deserve saving

Or bless who doesn’t deserve being blessed

GRACE is when God acts for you in spite of you.

GRACE is how God welcomes back a rebellious people without destroying them because of their sin

Your works can’t get you there. . . BUT GRACE WILL!

Our Text

Eph 2:1-10 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, 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 ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as 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 so that we would walk in them.”

The Anatomy of Grace

#1 - Grace is not dependent on ANYONE

Grace does not operate under the law of reciprocity. This means that it will act for a person without requiring an act from the person

Grace doesn’t need a prompt from someone. He is not waiting for you to act or offer something. . .He simply acts.

This verse amplifies the point that grace doesn’t need something from you. Eph 2:5 “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

God gave you grace when you were dead (nothing to offer, and you lack the ability to offer, God made His offer)

When God gives, He gives everything: i. that you can never earn ii. That you can’t manufacture

APPL. When you truly understand grace, there is nothing you won’t do for God

#2 - Grace witholds from NO ONE

When God dispenses His grace, God doesn’t hold back. I.e. God makes all His blessings available - even when we’re not in the environment to fully experience them.

Eph 2:7 “so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

God’s grace comes from a place of abundance. “It never runs out”’

Eph 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”

1 Tim 1:14 “and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”

Grace sees everyone as worthy - That’s why God had no issues choosing Paul but Ananias did

#3 - Grace is available for EVERYONE

Since everyone falls under the same condition of sin, everyone is going to need grace to cover them.

The condition described in vs. 1-3, means that all men need God’s grace

SAME CONDITION

SAME PROBLEM

SAME DEMISE

SAME SOLUTION

Jn 1:17 “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

It’s not that GRACE wasn’t there but it’s now in a full way, doing a lot more!!!

GRACE was there from the beginning!

A. Available to save

Tit 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,”

Rom 5:15 “But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.”

B. Available to Live

2 Cor 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

C. Available to Help

Heb 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Call to Salvation