THINK TOGETHER
Should we do good things? Why should we do good things?
READ TOGETHER
Grace then Faith then Works. In that order. That’s how the Christian life is supposed to go. Here’s how Paul explains it to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:10. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Grace
We are saved by grace. But what is grace?
Grace is God giving us something that we don’t deserve. God forgives us. Loves us. Saves us. Rescues us. Changes us. And lets us live with him forever. But none of us deserve it, only Jesus does. And Jesus graciously shares his life with us. And not only in order to be saved from sin and death, but also so that we can become more like him.
Faith
And that happens by faith. But faith (trust) in God’s grace we are saved and we are changed forever. By faith in God’s love for us we can love him and love others.
But remember, faith doesn’t save us, grace does. God has done it all, we only have to believe and trust that he has done it all.
Works
Paul tells the Ephesians tow things about doing good works. First: good works can never, ever save us. What saves us? GRACE! No one can do enough good deeds on their own to please God or earn salvation.
But second: we are “created in Christ” to do good works. What this means is that when Jesus is inside of us he wants to do good deeds through us. He wants to be nice. He wants to care about everyone. He wants to obey. He wants to say kind things. He wants to help those who need help.
And when we do good deeds from faith in Jesus, instead of from trying to make God love us more or give us more, then that pleases God.
Because of Jesus we have been saved by grace through faith.
With Jesus we can let him do good works through us.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Work together to memorize Ephesians 2:8-10. These are foundational verses that every Christian would benefit from having in their heart.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
Your grace is amazing. Help me to always trust you and then to do the good works that you want to do through me.
Amen.
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