Rooted In Your Wealth 8

Saved By Grace Through A Faith That Works

Text: Ephesians 2:8-10

Introduction

Paul is entering a discussion where he inserts both faith and works. This continues to be an argument even in the day we live. I truly believe that if people would set denominational allegiances aside, they would grasp the truth Paul is explaining here.

This whole concept of, “You only have what you work hard for,” has crept into how some people perceive the way of which we obtain the greatest blessing humanity can ever receive; eternal life.

1) God Has Worked For You

The first thing Paul highlights is GOD’S GRACE:

The great spiritual rescue God initiated before the world began is BY GRACE.

(Exalting Jesus In Ephesians)

Dead in trespasses and sins! Alive together with Christ

Sons of disobedience! Raised up with Christ

Children of wrath! Seated with Christ

Children of wrath! Recipients of generous mercy

Children of wrath! Recipients of great love

Children of wrath! Recipients of rich grace

Children of wrath! Recipients of God’s kindness

Children of wrath! Trophies of God’s grace

Due to the salvation Jesus has provided not being by your good works, neither can your bad works cause you to lose it.

When a work is COMPLETED, there is nothing left to do.

Illustration - It would be like showing up after the grand opening of a newly built building and saying, the foundation is faulting. Yet the inspector has given his approval.

Your salvation is a finished work completed only by Jesus.

John 17:1-4 “1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

John 19:30 “30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

You can add nothing to it — Hebrews 10:12-14 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

Remember what happened to the veil in the temple!

The way to God is now OPEN!

God did it all and He did it by grace!!!

Quote: Sin worked against us and God worked for us, but the great work of conversion is but the beginning. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 19.

2) God Is Working IN YOU

“Workmanship” = God’s creation project

You conversion is not the end, but the beginning.

2 Cor. 5:17 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Illustration: Nothing is born fully matured. Everyone is not only physically born but also spiritually born in infancy.

God’s purpose is to continue shaping you until you are like Christ.

Romans 8:29 “29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Conformed = like-natured adjs. — similar in representative essence or nature to something else.

Image = likeness n. — similarity in appearance, character, or nature between persons or things.

How does God actually work “in us?”

Philippians 2:13 “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Illustration: How is it you decide to be a light for Jesus when you are surrounded by darkness? ANS — He gives you the Will to follow through.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

“make you perfect” = to prepare v. — to make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, or other purpose.

You are a human BEING before a human DOER!

The Holy Spirit is leading you every day to and away from resources that will gradually prepare you for His future purposes.

You don’t have to know what they are....just that they come from Him!!!

This workmanship is not only individual in nature. It leads to preparing His church for future purposes.

There is always a “walk” and a “work” He is preparing you for.

There are for sure 3 things the Spirit will use to prepare you:

His on Words — 1 Thess. 2:13 “13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Prayer — Ephesians 3:20-21 “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Suffering — 1 Peter 4:11-14 “11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

The Bible is full of examples of this processes:

God had to work in Moses for 40 years before He could work through him.

Joseph experienced suffering for 13 years before God put him on the throne.

The Apostle Paul spent 3 years in Arabia after converting before beginning his ministry.

3) God Is Working Through You

Quote: “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone” — John Calvin

We are not saved by faith plus works, but rather a faith that works. (spend time studying James 2)

Paul is mentions a couple of things about the kind of works that we are to perform for God’s glory:

First, these works are GOOD.

How can any work from our hands be declared good from God? ANS — God dwells within us and He is good; The Spirit produces these good works through you.

It is not because you are good, but rather the one who dwells in you is good.

This is why Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

This leads us to glorify God in all that we do as we follow Him—the credit goes to God.

2 Cor. 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Colossians 1:10 “10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Second, these good works are prepared works

As the world has a prepared path for the unbeliever, God has a prepared path for the believer.

Paul is not talking about some kind of impersonal fate that controls you like a puppet.

Paul is describing a loving Heavenly Father who desires the very best for His children.

Psalm 33:11 “11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

1 Cor. 2:9-13 “9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” who said, I am not what I ought to be—ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be—I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be—soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (Christian Spectator, 186)

Conclusion

Have you received God’s saving grace through faith alone in Jesus?

Are you allowing the Spirit to shape you on the inside?

Are you following the Spirit to produce His good works through you?

Remember, the Spirit took you out of the graveclothes and put grace-clothes on you! The Spirit has seated you in the heavens with Christ. Practice your position as you work out your salvation!