Ephesians 2: 6-10 Sermon notes from Steve's sermon

Last week: (same passage) How bad it was, how good we now have it.

This week: Works -- Is it the right thing to do to really work at anything? Are grace and works really opposite? What is the relationship between them?

There's a time to let go of works and there's a time to embrace works. This passage helps us figure this out.

We are saved by grace, not by works. (v8) This lets us know there's no place to boast. God helps us -- NOT "God helps those who help themselves". All of salvation by faith is a gift. Our salvation is not meritorious. Faith is an instrument that God gives us that allows us access to this salvation he has made available.

What are we supposed to do with faith? First, we need to let go of works. Take inventory again and often -- do we hope to make ourselves presentable to God by our accomplishments, so we can say "in God's eyes I'm okay"? That's like slapping on a coat of paint over rotted walls. If we're hiding behind works, we should let go of them. God is the only one that can restore us.

We need to receive and cherish this gift of salvation -- use it, talk about it, etc. -- not put it up on a shelf somewhere. Look to grace instead of works when it comes to our salvation.

Yet there is a time to embrace works. We are created for good works. Works involve exertion. Works that bring God glory. We are called to 'stay in the game'. Works were prepared in advance for us to do. We can't do good works in our own power, but must do them in union with Christ, which means to be in the word of God to make sure we are continuing to learn about Jesus and be guided by him.

Look at our works as stemming from the grace we've been given, and issuing forth from that grace. There's a real purpose behind grace, and it involves being his handiwork made for good works. Let go of works when you find you're trying to hide behind them, but embrace works when you have received the gift of the gracious giver who is behind them.