EPHESIANS 2:1-10

TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007

WORKS, GRACE AND FAITH
 

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV)

Works, Grace and Faith are all important elements of our Spiritual Life. There is no doubt about that. The question is, which comes first?

The man came to Jesus and listed the many works he had done. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor. The man walked away. We learn from this that works are not enough, so they can’t come first.

The man came to Jesus and asked what he must do to be saved. Jesus said to leave all that he had and follow him. The man said that he had some things to take care of first. His faith in Jesus was not enough to allow him to just leave everything at that moment. We learn from this that faith is not enough, so it can’t come first.

That leaves us with grace. Verses 8 and 9 explain this very well. “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” If you read verses 1 - 3, you have the explanation given by St. Paul. The first two words of verse 1 are important, “And you.” Note that there is no limitation on who you is. It does not say, you Ephesians, it says you. When I read “And you” I must put my name there in place of “you.” That is important because if the “you” does not refer to every “me” there is no reason to read on as St. Paul would be writing to someone else. Therefore as I read the words that follow “And you,” St. Paul reminds me that I was dead in trespasses and sin, I walked according to the course of the world under the power of the evil one who rules the sons of disobedience and I was a child of wrath just as the others who disobeyed God.

In verses 1 - 3, we are far away from being a Child of God, as a believer. The outlook is very gloomy. What can we do? St. Paul says that we can do nothing, BUT GOD CAN AND DID! In verses 4 -7 we see it is only by the GRACE of God, who Sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross for you and for me, that I can come to Him in response to His Love. In the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus we can see that we too can rise from the gutters of life where Satan seeks to rule. We too can look toward the Heavenly Mansions where we will sit and be with Jesus and all of the saints who have gone before us. As we begin to see and understand these gifts that God has given to us, our faith begins to grow stronger and stronger. By the GRACE of God as we have been brought from the gutters of sin up to the flower gardens of peace and serenity, we respond to our Loving, Caring God and that is called FAITH. That response is not because of something we have done, that response is not to claim something that we have earned, that response is in thankfulness that God has rescued us from the power of darkness.

In verses 8 - 10 we learn that faith is a gift from God. Elsewhere in the Bible we are told that no one can even say, with any belief, “Jesus Is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Our works can earn us nothing. Our works can only touch the life of others and give to them the hope of Life in Christ. Thus by the Grace of God, He has led us to FAITH and He performs His WORKS of love through us.

Are you able to see the GRACE of God in your life?

Does knowing that you live in that GRACE help you to call on the Holy Spirit to strengthen your FAITH?

Does your FAITH produce WORKS that are pleasing to God and touch the lives of others for Him?

WE PRAY: HEAVENLY FATHER, Thank you for sending your Son to lift me from the depths of sin and hopelessness. Send your Holy Spirit upon me that my faith might increase and bear fruit through the works you lead me to do. AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

When you talk about your faith, try to always omit the “I did” and replace it with “Jesus did.” We are not servants of God to have people follow us; if we are doing God’s will we are to lead others to follow Jesus.