Why Does God Save?
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· 4 viewsThe first in a series of messages on Ministry, this message reveals the purpose of our salvation is good works or ministry.
Notes
Transcript
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Amy Marie Jowers shared this with the “Christians who enjoy good clean jokes” group “I have a friend who writes music about sewing machines. He’s a singer songwriter. Or sew it seams.
Introduction
Introduction
Why does God save people? What is the purpose of God’s Salvation in Jesus Christ? God saves you… so you can …what? What is the purpose of God’s Salvation?
Some say people are saved so that they can go to heaven. That is the purpose of salvation. Maybe that’s what you think. God saves you so that you can go to heaven after you die. The question is: Is that the purpose of salvation? Is that why God saves you? Is the goal of everything so that you can go to heaven some day?
It is noteworthy that when you read our text you won’t find that answer in there. It’s not in the broader context either. I am not denying the reality of heaven. The bible clearly teaches that if we believe in Christ that when we die we will go to be with him. But is that why God saves? Is that the purpose of his salvation - so that we can go to heaven some day?
FIn order to find the answer to this question we will look at four additional questions that are answered by our passage and discover Why God saves. Let’s look at it together.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I. Who are we?
I. Who are we?
For we are his workmanship
Workmanship = Poiema
It is used only in two places in the Bible Here and in
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Denotes a work of art or a masterpiece. A thing of his making.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
II. What is our purpose?
II. What is our purpose?
…created in Christ Jesus unto good works,”
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
III. When did it happen?
III. When did it happen?
....Which God hath before ordained…
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
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.
IV. How will you respond?
IV. How will you respond?
…that we should walk in them.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So Why does God save?
To answer this question we looked at four questions that grew out of our text.
Who are we? We are His Workmanship.
What is our purpose? To do good works.
When did it happen? Before everything God ordained it.
What will be my response? That we should walk in them?
If you know Christ as your savior the Bible tells us that we will go to heaven. The only appropriate response to such mercy, to such grace is to obey him, is to pay it forward, is to do good works.
That is what drives us to share the gospel, that is what spurs us to serve our community, that is what moves us to help others. Ministry is the lifeblood of any true Christian.
Tony Merida in his book, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians writes, “Works are not the root of Salvation; they are the Fruit of Salvation.”
Do you have fruit of your choice to follow Jesus or is your basket empty? Let’s begin to fill it today.