shortlady
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God’s Saving Grace
People love to receive credit for the things they do. There are some people who make sure the results of their works or deeds are known. Some people make sure the littlest things are recognized by others. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have a good feeling when we accomplish something, but we have to be careful that we don't allow pride to overtake us. The Pharisees were always doing things for men to see their works. If you didn't recognize them they would make sure that they got your attention somehow. If we do something good or great, allow someone else to see it on their own, and if they don't recognize you don't worry about it. Matthew 6:1, 2 says, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." If you toot your own whistle or do it to be seen, then Jesus said that's your reward right there. Works shouldn't be done for recognition; it should be something you do from your heart. In our passages for today, Paul shares with us that there is something nobody can take credit for doing except God.
Verse 8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." I hope no Christian reading this has made the mistake of thinking that they have received salvation on their own. If so, stand to be corrected by the word of God. We are told that we have been saved by grace (God's grace), through faith. Grace, the fa*vor and bounty which we receive from the Lord. So far we haven't did anything to receive salvation on our own, now let's look at faith. Faith in this text is the instrument, channel, or means by which we receive salvation from God. Faith is a gift from God, he placed faith in us, without it we can't believe. So, it's nothing we have done, we receive salvation when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is truly a gift of God. If we really think of what salvation is and what it does for us, you couldn't even work enough to receive something so great. Grace is what God does for man, not what man does for God or for himself. Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise, and joy.
In verse 9, Paul makes sure we know that we can't work for salvation. Since this is the case nobody has nothing to brag or boast about. Some people walk around like they died on the cross for themselves. But it was only by God's saving grace that we now have the right to the tree of life. God knew that if there was anything on our part in receiving salvation, that some people would boast. And in their boasting, they would take their focus off of God. God makes sure that our focus stays on him by making us realize that without him we are nothing. I'm glad that God saved me, because if I had a chance to work for my salvation I probably would only be partly saved. But because God did it, I'm saved completely!
Not only am I saved by grace, but I'm God's workmanship. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." In the art gallery of God, we're his masterpieces. We are now in living union with Christ, not to do what we want, but created to do good works which he has prepared for us to do. God has a plan and purpose for everyone's life. It's when we accept Christ, will find our true purpose in life. Works do not justify, but the justified man works. Works never produce salvation, but salvation always produces works. Works are the consequences, not the causes of salvation. One must be a Christian before he can live as a Christian. We must be created in Christ Jesus unto good works before we can walk in them. It doesn't matter how many good deeds a person does in life, good works alone won't get anyone into heaven. If they have not Christ, they are not justified. Galatians 2:16 says, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Christ must be the center of our lives before anything we do can have meaning. By grace, it was Christ for us; through faith, it was Christ in us; and unto good works, it is Christ through us. Amen.
Copyright © 2005 Shad E. Comeaux. All rights reserved
People love to receive credit for the things they do. There are some people who make sure the results of their works or deeds are known. Some people make sure the littlest things are recognized by others. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have a good feeling when we accomplish something, but we have to be careful that we don't allow pride to overtake us. The Pharisees were always doing things for men to see their works. If you didn't recognize them they would make sure that they got your attention somehow. If we do something good or great, allow someone else to see it on their own, and if they don't recognize you don't worry about it. Matthew 6:1, 2 says, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." If you toot your own whistle or do it to be seen, then Jesus said that's your reward right there. Works shouldn't be done for recognition; it should be something you do from your heart. In our passages for today, Paul shares with us that there is something nobody can take credit for doing except God.
Verse 8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." I hope no Christian reading this has made the mistake of thinking that they have received salvation on their own. If so, stand to be corrected by the word of God. We are told that we have been saved by grace (God's grace), through faith. Grace, the fa*vor and bounty which we receive from the Lord. So far we haven't did anything to receive salvation on our own, now let's look at faith. Faith in this text is the instrument, channel, or means by which we receive salvation from God. Faith is a gift from God, he placed faith in us, without it we can't believe. So, it's nothing we have done, we receive salvation when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is truly a gift of God. If we really think of what salvation is and what it does for us, you couldn't even work enough to receive something so great. Grace is what God does for man, not what man does for God or for himself. Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise, and joy.
In verse 9, Paul makes sure we know that we can't work for salvation. Since this is the case nobody has nothing to brag or boast about. Some people walk around like they died on the cross for themselves. But it was only by God's saving grace that we now have the right to the tree of life. God knew that if there was anything on our part in receiving salvation, that some people would boast. And in their boasting, they would take their focus off of God. God makes sure that our focus stays on him by making us realize that without him we are nothing. I'm glad that God saved me, because if I had a chance to work for my salvation I probably would only be partly saved. But because God did it, I'm saved completely!
Not only am I saved by grace, but I'm God's workmanship. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." In the art gallery of God, we're his masterpieces. We are now in living union with Christ, not to do what we want, but created to do good works which he has prepared for us to do. God has a plan and purpose for everyone's life. It's when we accept Christ, will find our true purpose in life. Works do not justify, but the justified man works. Works never produce salvation, but salvation always produces works. Works are the consequences, not the causes of salvation. One must be a Christian before he can live as a Christian. We must be created in Christ Jesus unto good works before we can walk in them. It doesn't matter how many good deeds a person does in life, good works alone won't get anyone into heaven. If they have not Christ, they are not justified. Galatians 2:16 says, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Christ must be the center of our lives before anything we do can have meaning. By grace, it was Christ for us; through faith, it was Christ in us; and unto good works, it is Christ through us. Amen.
Copyright © 2005 Shad E. Comeaux. All rights reserved
