**********ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 NRSV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Grace has been defined as “God’s righteousness at Christ’s expense” or “God’s unmerited and undeserved favor.” These are wonderful definitions of grace. The doctrine of grace should thrill our hearts as we think about what God has done for us in Christ. Charles Swindoll said it well. He wrote, “If all the treasures of the sea, if all the gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds of the earth could be heaped into one towering pile, they would amount to a speck of dust next to the immense riches of God’s grace and kindness. We who are redeemed by Jesus are a shining testimony to the marvelous grace of God to all generations.”

The Bible speaks volumes about grace. Grace is seen the Old Testament as God provided covering for Adam and Eve. Grace is seen as God provided a ram in the thicket and spared Isaac in the sacrifice. Grace is seen in Joseph forgiving his brothers who had left him for dead and then sold him into slavery. Grace was evident as the three Hebrews were thrown in the fiery furnace and the Son of God appeared with them and protected them. Grace was with Daniel in the lion’s den as an angel of the Lord came and shut the mouth of the lions.

The grace of God is no more evident and obvious through out history than at the dawning of the New Testament. God’s grace was extended to a world in desperate need. Titus 2:11–14 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

The grace of God has appeared to us at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to cleanse us, claim us, and convert us.

The story is told about the Rev. Paul Gibson when he retired from years of faithful service as principle of a Christian school, that when a portrait of him was unveiled, he paid a well-deserved compliment to the artist. He said that in the future he believed people looking at the picture would ask not: “Who is that man?” but rather: “Who painted that portrait?”

As Christians we should live a life that honors God and points others to Jesus. Those who know us and are touched by our lives should not be enthralled with who we are, but who we know, who we live for, who we serve. Matthew 5:16 Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Paul declared the importance of grace and the instructions about grace. Grace is God’s work for us, in us, and through us as we receive His gift and reveal His glory. Have you received the grace of God? Have you been changed by the grace of God? What difference has God’s grace made in you and through you? Are you faithfully serving Jesus? Have you taken God’s grace for granted? These verses reveal some facts about what the Bible says about grace.

I. By grace we are saved. (8–9)

A. The magnifying of grace. (8a)

“For by grace you have been saved”

In writing to the Christians at Ephesus Paul magnifies the grace of God. Paul reminds the Ephesians that it is by grace that salvation has been given to them. Grace: charis, khar’-ece; graciousness (as gratifying), benefit, favor, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy). It is like Paul is putting the magnifying glass on the grace of God. Salvation is of the Lord and by the Lord and it’s all about the Lord. He saves us by His grace! Saved: sozo, sode’-zo; to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literal or figurative)-heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole. We all need to be reminded that it was and is by the grace of God that any of us are saved.

Paul is putting the spotlight on God’s grace. The Bible says that by grace we are saved. This is the 2nd time in this chapter that Paul tells the church that it is by grace we are saved. He does this to magnify the importance of grace. Ephesians 2:5 says, “even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” In verse 8 we learn about the magnifying of grace. In verse 8–9 we see:

B. The means of grace. (8b–9)

1. It declares our dependency. (8b)

“through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

Paul tells the church that we are saved by grace through faith. Faith is the instrument and the vehicle in which we are saved. Paul tells the church of the means of God’s grace. Paul is declaring our dependency on grace alone through faith alone to be saved. Without faith it is impossible to please God! (Heb. 11:6) Without faith in Jesus Christ no one will ever be saved. God’s grace is given to us and received by us through faith. Paul lets the believers know that they had nothing to do with salvation. All we did was believe the gospel. We were given salvation through faith and we were given the faith to believe.

God is sovereign over our salvation. Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Paul tells us that salvation is by grace through faith and that not of ourselves. We are totally dependent on God’s grace for salvation. It’s not in us or of us that any of us are saved.

→ We were not good enough;

→ we didn’t come from the right family,

→ we didn’t have the right upbringing,

→ we couldn’t purchase or work for salvation.

→ Salvation is not of ourselves!

→ It is out of our hands!

The Bible tells us of the means of God’s grace in salvation which is faith. We are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves. We are totally dependent on the grace of God.

Paul further substantiates this fact by telling us that “It is the gift of God,” Salvation is a free gift from God to us and it is by His grace and through faith! Gift: doron, do’-ron; a present; specially a sacrifice-gift, offering. We are dependent on God to save us and we can not do anything to be saved! Salvation is the gift of God which magnifies the grace of God. By grace we are saved. God offers the free gift of salvation to all people. A Good Word: Salvation is free, but it’s not cheap. God paid the price so that sinners could be saved! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Have you received the grace of God? Have you rejected the grace of God? Are you saved today? The means of God’s grace declares our dependency. We are dependent totally on God. The means of grace: it declares our dependency; we also see:

2. It destroys our sufficiency. (9)

“not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Paul not only declares our dependency, but he also destroys our sufficiency. We totally dependent on the Lord Jesus to save us and we could and never can do anything to be saved. Paul tells us that it is not of ourselves and not of our service!. We are not saved by our works! All the world religions try to reach God and please God by their service and what they do.

Christianity is not based on what we do, but on what the Lord Jesus has already done! Works are not a requirement for salvation, but they are the results of salvation. We are not saved by works! If it was of works then it would not be of grace! Our works are never good enough to merit us eternal life. Even the best of us fail at times!

I read the story of Lillie Baltrip who was a good bus driver. In fact, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on June 17, 1988, the Houston school district nominated her for a safe-driving award. Her colleagues even trusted her to drive a busload of them to an awards ceremony for safe drivers. Unfortunately, on the way to the ceremony, Lillie turned a corner too sharply and flipped the bus over, sending herself and sixteen others to the hospital for minor emergency treatment. Though Lillie had been accident free for the whole year, she did not get her reward. Award committees rarely operate on the principle of grace. We are blessed to know that even when we do not maintain a spotless life-record, our salvation does not depend on our performance, but on God’s grace.

Paul tears down any claim by any one that they contributed anything to salvation. A works based salvation is a lie out of the pits of hell. I love what Augustus Toplady wrote in his great hymn. He wrote these words:

◦ Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling; Naked, come to thee for dress, helpless, look to thee for grace;

◦ Foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.

◦ Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hid myself in Thee,

◦ Let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, save me from wrath and make me pure.

It is by grace that we are saved through faith and it is not of ourselves and not of works. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Since we have not been saved by our good works, we cannot be lost by our bad works. Grace means salvation completely apart from any merit or works on our part.” Paul destroys our sufficiency in and of ourselves. None of us can boast or brag about any work meriting salvation for us. Salvation is not of works! If we had a hand in it then we would boast about it! Pride is the sin that got Satan kicked out of heaven! *Pride and grace cannot dwell in the same place!*

If we got to heaven based on what we have done then we would boast about it and have pride in ourselves! Boast: kauchaomai, kow-khah’-om-ahee; to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense) (make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice. We can never have the attitude that we helped God out in saving us! The greatest Christian that ever lived can never brag and boast about earning salvation. If we got what we deserved then we would all go to hell! Thank God that we don’t get what we deserve! James M. Gray said it well in his hymn. He wrote, “Naught have I gotten, but what I received, grace hath bestowed it, since I have believed, boasting excluded, pride I abase, I’m only a sinner, saved by grace.”

Paul is tearing down our self-sufficiency. We are not saved by our works and we have no room or right to boast. Multitudes are hindered from coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ because they are self sufficient. They believe they are alright or that they can give enough, do enough, and live a good enough life on their own. Many people do not want anyone doing anything for them. Jesus didn’t come to help us be saved, but He came to save us! We cannot be saved by ourselves! Self hinders us from being saved!

On November 20, 1988, the Los Angeles Times reported the following: A screaming woman, trapped in a car dangling from a freeway transition road in East Los Angeles was rescued Saturday morning. The 19 year old woman apparently fell asleep behind the wheel about 12:15 A. M. The car, which plunged through a guard rail was left dangling by its left rear wheel. A half dozen passing motorists stopped, grabbed some ropes from one of their vehicles, tied the ropes to the back of the woman’s car, and hung on until the fire units arrived. A ladder was extended from below to help stabilize the car while firefighters tied the vehicle to tow trucks with cables and chains. One rescue worker said, “Every time we would move the car she’s yell and scream. She was in pain.” It took almost 2½ hours for the passers-by, the highway patrol, tow truck drivers, and firefighters—about 25 people in all—to secure the car and pull the woman to safety. L. A. County Fire Captain Ross Marshall recalled later, “It was kinda funny. She kept saying, “I’ll do it myself. I’ll do it myself.” Sadly, many in the world are crying out the same thing. They are trying to “do it themselves.” Do you trust in the Savior or do you trust in yourself? The Bible says that by grace we are saved. We also learn that the Bible says:

II. By grace we are servants. (10)

A. The work of God: He prepared us for good works. (10a)

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,”

Paul tells the church that we are saved by God’s grace and we are servants by God’s grace. God has prepared us for the good works. We are His workmanship! Workmanship: poiema, poy’-ay-mah; a product, i.e. fabric (literal or figurative)-thing that is made, workmanship. John Phillips wrote, “The word translated ‘workmanship,’ poiema, indicates that we are His poem, His masterpiece. Each of our lives is the canvas on which the Master is producing a work of art that will fill the everlasting ages with His praise.”

*God has saved us, sealed us, and He is the One that shapes us.* We are His special workmanship!

I read the story of a Sunday school class that had a rowdy and disruptive young boy who continually frustrated his teacher. Exasperated, the teacher said one morning to the little boy, “Why do you act the way you do? Don’t you know who made you?” The boy said, “God did, but He ain’t through with me yet.” God’s still working on us and in us and through us. Dr. Lehman Strauss said, “We may gaze upon the sun, the moon, the stars, the snow-capped mountains, or the beautiful flowers of every season, but these are not the best workmanship of God. The Church is God’s masterpiece, and it is the loftiest conception of beauty, unity, and usefulness—above everything else in the earth. God takes rough, crude sinners, dead in trespasses and sins, and produces vessels meet for the Master’s use. Sin-marred, defective material is transformed by God into useful instruments of righteousness.” The church is God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus. The church is in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is in the church. He is in and over His people.

He has created us in Christ Jesus for good works. God has made us on purpose for a purpose. Good: agathos, ag-ath-os’’; “good” (in any sense, often as noun)-benefit, good (-s, things), well. Works: ergon, er’-gon; (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act-deed, doing, labor, work. Good works are evidence in the life of a child of God. We do good works for God’s glory and not for self promotion or self gratification. Christians do good works for Jesus so that He may be honored in this world. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

We have been created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are servants of God because of the grace of God! Paul gives a word about the work of God: God prepared us for good works. In the last part of verse 10 we note:

B. The will of God: He prepared good works for us. (10b)

1. The sovereign plan of God. (10b)

“which God prepared beforehand”

God has saved us and called us to be servants. We are not saved to sit, but saved to serve! It is God’s will that we be workers for Him. Every Christian is to be servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God’s will that we be about good works for His glory! Prepared beforehand: (KJV: before ordained) proetoimazo, pro-et-oy-mad’-zo; to fit up in advance (literal or figurative) -ordain before, prepare afore, to make ready beforehand. This word speaks of the sovereignty of God in laying out the works of Christians in their lives. God has prepared good works for every Christian. We are saved by faith and when we have the proper faith we will have good works.

*God has prepared us for the good works and He has prepared the good works for us! *

When we abide in the Lord Jesus we will bear much fruit for the kingdom of God. (John 15:1–8) John Calvin said, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.” In verse 10 we learn about the Sovereign plan of God, we also note:

2. The saints practice of good. (10c)

“that we should walk in them.”

By grace we are servants. We are servants by the sovereign plan of God. Paul gives a word about the saint’s practice of good. It is God’s will that we walk in good works. Walk: peripateo, per-ee-pat-eh’-o; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large; figurative to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):—go, be occupied with, walk (about), to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self, to order one’s behavior. We live for Jesus and serve Jesus because we are saved. By grace we are saved and by grace we are servants. William Barclay said, “We cannot earn God’s love; but we can and must show how grateful we are for it, by seeking with our whole hearts to live the kind of life that will bring joy to God’s heart.” God’s will for us is to be about good works in Jesus name. Sam Gordon wrote, “God’s plan for our lives extends beyond salvation to sanctification, beyond standing in grace to walking in good deeds.” Are you a servant of the Lord? Does good works describe your life? Are you busy about doing good in Jesus name and for His glory? God has a work for each of us! He has prepared us for good works and He has prepared the good works for us. Our name is on these works.

◦ Sunday school Teachers: God has prepared you for that work and prepared that work for you! Do it with all your heart!

◦ Pastors: God has prepared you for that good work and He has prepared that good work for you.

◦ Keeping the nursery: Do it for God’s glory!

◦ Feeding the poor!

◦ Running the Sound system!

◦ Serving on committees

◦ Deacons: Serve the Lord

◦ Cooking in the kitchen

◦ Praying with purpose

◦ Giving cheerfully

◦ Witnessing faithfully

A pastor once told about a Christian lady who often visited a retirement home near her house. One day she noticed a lonely man sitting, staring at his dinner tray. In a kindly manner she asked, “Is something wrong?” The man replied in a loud voice, “Is something wrong? Yes, something is wrong! I am a Jew, and I cannot eat this food!” She asked, “What would you like to have?” The man replied, “I would like a bowl of hot soup.” She went home and prepared the soup and, after getting permission from the office, took it to the man. In succeeding weeks, she often visited him and brought him the kind of food he enjoyed and eventually that dear woman had the opportunity and privilege to lead that Jewish man to faith in Jesus Christ. Preparing soup can be a spiritual service and good work to the glory of God! God has prepared us for good works and God has prepared good works for us. The Bible says that by grace we are saved and that by grace we are servants. Have you received the grace of God and the forgiveness of your sins? Do you take the grace of God for granted? Do you serve the Lord and do good works in Jesus name?