Ephesians 2 - 4.19.23
Scripture
Ephesians 2:8-10
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.
Observation
Paul is addressing the Ephesian church by basically reiterating the Gospel message to them. He starts with their sin condition, their conversion by God’s grace through Jesus Christ and then the privileges that “both converted Jews and Gentiles receive from Christ.” (Reference: biblestudytools.com)
Grace is a FREE gift. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor towards us. It is a free gift (without conditions) that is available to all who would receive it. If we could earn this gift, then we would have a reason to boast about it, but because we cannot work for His favor, the only One we are able to boast about is Jesus Christ!
Application
We do good works AFTER receiving His grace and Holy Spirit, not before. We are only as strong as our relationship with Jesus is.
I am reminded of the story of Jesus and Nicodemus. The story can be found in John 3 of the Bible. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a rule follower who believed that the only way to God was through good works, but Jesus explained to him about being born again. He had to be born again by “water and the Spirit” and explained how God’s plan was to send His son to die to save the world from their sins. It had nothing to do with works, like Nicodemus was accustomed to. (The Apostle Paul, writer of Ephesians is very familiar with that way of living, as a former religious leader and upholder of the law.)
God’s heart is that we put relationship with Jesus before rules. The good works we do as Christ followers is a fruit of our faith relationship with Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I pray we would all live in the freedom and enjoyment of being in relationship with You first and allow the rest to follow. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi