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Faith and Works – How they fit. Faith : How we say Yes to God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Good Works : How we say Thank You for God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:10). Grace = getting what we do not deserve.
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Faith and Works – How they fit • Faith: How we say Yes to God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Good Works: How we say Thank You for God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:10).
Grace = getting what we do not deserve • (Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Wages – Eternal death (hell) is the punishment we do deserve • Gift – Eternal life (heaven) is the incredible gift that we don’t deserve.
Saved from what? • (Romans 5:9) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! • Saved = God withholds His wrath toward our sin.
Believe in Christ = Faith = Trust • (Ephesians 2:8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith (pistis) • (John 3:36) Whoever believes (pisteuo) in the Son has eternal life • To believe in Christ is to trust in His death on the cross to pay for our sins.
Eternal life is really free! (Ephesians 2:8,9) • (John 5:21) … the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. • (John 10:28) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. • (Romans 6:23) … but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • (Revelation 22:17) … whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. • (Mark 10:15) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
We are saved by faith in Christ, not works • (Ephesians 2:8-9) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.“ • What are you trusting in to get to heaven? Christ + Works Christ Good Works
Evaluating our good works as believers • Am I doing the good works God planned for me? If not, why not? • Am I just too busy – doing what benefits me? • Am I distracted from good works by sin? • Am I doing the good works God planned, or the ones I want to do? • Am doing the “good works” that make me feel good or feel important? • Am I doing the “good works” I do because I want to please people – or God? • Am I just doing the good works that are easy for me?