We Are Saved By Grace

Eph. 2:8-10

Verse 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

I. Salvation involves two things: grace and faith.

A. Grace is unmerited favor, and is God's gift to mankind.

1. Eph. 2:1-3 shows us we were all totally depraved.

2. Titus 3:3-5 is another place that shows we were all totally depraved.

3. Ps. 14:1-3 shows that God looked down upon the children of men to see if there were any that sought Him. There was none.

4. Rom. 3:10-18 shows men don't look for Christ in the New Testament times, just like they didn't look for Christ in the Old Testament times.

B. Faith is man believing the promises (word) of God.

1. A person must believe God when He says they are totally depraved, and ought to die and go to hell because of their unbelief.

2. Then they must believe that Christ paid their hell on the cross, suffering because of their sin.

II. That not of yourselves. (Grace is receiving that good thing which we do not deserve, while mercy is not receiving that bad thing we do deserve.)

A. Grace is not from us, because only God can give that which isn't deserved.

1. John 1:12,13 - We are born again by God, not by any work that we do.

2. Nobody (even us) deserves to be saved.

3. Salvation is offered, not forced upon us.

B. Faith isn't from us, because nobody has the kind of faith that is required to be saved.

III. It is the gift of God.

A. Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

B. You don't work for a gift, or expect a gift. It is freely given.

Verse 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I. Is salvation by works or grace?

A. It sounds logical that salvation is a "reward" for a good life, but God does punish evil and reward good.

B. Consider:

1. Titus 3:3-7 (verse 5) - Not by works of righteousness which we have done.

2. Romans 11:6 - There is no mixture of grace and works.

3. Eph. 2:8,9 - Salvation is a gift.

4. Romans 6:23 - Salvation is a gift.

C. If it's possible to earn salvation, why did Christ die?

1. If we say "It takes both grace and works", then God (Christ) couldn't do enough to save us by Himself.

2. I Peter 3:18 - The just suffered for the unjust - to bring us to salvation.

D. God doesn't ignore our sins. He forgives them. He cleanses (atones) us of our sins.

1. I Peter 3:18 - Jesus suffered for our sins.

2. II Cor. 5:21 - Jesus became sin for us.

3. Rom. 5:9 - Justified by His blood.

4. Heb. 9:26 - Suffered once to put away sins.

II. Nobody can boast about being saved, but everybody can be thankful they are saved.

A. If salvation was partly by works, then we could brag about our part.

1. God is not a big bookkeeper, adding up our good and bad deeds, seeing which one outweighs the other and letting that determine whether we will go to heaven or not.

a. God knows, even if we don't, that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

b. There is none good, no, not one!

2. Can't you just imagine the ridiculous scene in heaven of people gathered around a central meeting place, comparing tales about what they did to provide a part of their own salvation, and how hard it was for them?

3. They would be so busy bragging about themselves, they wouldn't have time to even think about what Jesus did.

B. The only one we can brag about is Christ, who saved us.

1. We will spend all eternity giving glory to God for his unspeakably great salvation.

2. Rev. 4:9-11 - The 24 elders cast their crowns before the throne, proclaiming that God is worthy to receive glory and honour and power because He is the creator, and everything was created to give Him honor.

Verse 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

I. His Workmanship.

A. We belong to Jesus, not to ourselves.

B. All our lives belong to Jesus, not to ourselves.

1. We ought to live for Him, not for ourselves.

2. We ought to give Him all the glory for our lives, and works, not take that glory for ourselves.

II. Created in Christ Jesus.

A. The word created is not like "invented", or "discovered".

1. Invent means to fabricate out of material already present. Edison invented the light bulb. He didn't discover it because it wasn't already there. He put several substances together making them into a light bulb.

2. Discover means to bring to light things that are previously hidden. For example, Columbus discovered America. He didn't invent America, or create America.

3. Create means to originate or bring forth out of nothing. Jesus Christ created the earth and the heavens. In the same manner, He has created new creatures out of old creatures, sinless creatures out of sinful creatures.

B. II Cor. 5:17 - We are a new creature in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.

C. Galatians 6:15 - Uncircumcision, nor circumcision counts. Whether the person is a new creature in Christ Jesus is what really counts.

III. Unto good works.

A. Good works come after salvation, not before.

B. God has foreordained that we walk in good works.

1. This is not an option for us.

2. We have been purchased by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and do not belong to ourselves, but to God.

Jesus is the divine worker in our salvation.

Jesus is the divine method whereby God saves us.

The divine purpose of our salvation is “unto good works”.

The divine field of service is this present world.