Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
These are 3 great verses because they refute three of Satan’s biggest lies.
I. Lie # 1. To be saved you must do a certain number of good works.
The truth is we are not saved by our works (Vs. 8-9). No place is that said more clearly than in Ephesians 2:8-9. It is the work done by Christ on the cross that saves us. Salvation is a gift of God. (Gifts by definition are always free). If I try to do any work in order to get my salvation it no longer becomes a gift.
II. Lie #2. Now that you are saved you don’t have to do any good works.
The truth is we are saved for service/works (V.10). God preferred method of doing things is always through a person not a program. For example:
When it was time to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt God raised up Moses
When it was time to bring the people into the Promised Land God raised up Joshua
When it was time to take down Goliath God raised up David
When it was time to save the world God raised up Jesus
When it was time to get the Gospel out into the Roman world God raised up Paul
God is still working through saved people even today for His purpose and glory.
II. Lie #3. Now that we are saved for service, we lack certain abilities to serve.
Just as importantly we are not only saved for service; we are also shaped for service
Going back to Ephesians. 2:10 ”For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We are shaped for service because:
1. We are God’s workmanship
2. We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works
The word “created” means “we are designed with certain abilities, capabilities or the necessary capacity to do the good works” which God has already prepared in advance for us to do.
God has shaped each one of us in a unique way on purpose so that we can do the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Please know that as followers of Christ, we are “Saved for Service”. Amen!
Pastor John Punni, II