Good Works

Good Morning,

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

There is so very much in this section of Scripture that Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. His words, the words given him by God, were NOT just for those people. No, not at all. These words were meant for every generation that followed, including this generation in which we now live. I'll take a few liberties with the exact wording today. Just to say what I heard this morning as I read these verses. You may or may not agree. That's okay. But, I would ask you to read these verses and listen to what is being said into your mind and into your heart.

Paul tells us that before our acceptance of Jesus Christ into our lives as Lord and Savior we were dead because of all of the wrong we had done, because of our sins. We were living lives not only in the world, but of the world and...knowingly or unknowingly...we followed the ruler of this world. As Paul puts it, "The ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." That would be the ruler who still, to this very day, guides and rules not believers in ways that are against God. We once lived that way in the world. We lived for the gratification of our sinful wishes and carnal desires. We, before we knew Jesus, were the objects of God's wrath. However, and this "however" is one of the largest that has ever been uttered by anyone at any time, because of the fact that God loved us, because of His great mercy, He allowed us to live...to be alive...with Jesus, even though we were rightfully dead in our transgressions against God. "It is by grace you have been saved." God not only saved us, but He also elevated us up to sit with Jesus Christ with God the Father in heaven. This to show His grace toward us. Paul then writes the most famous of the words in this section of Scripture, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." I guess even though God had told us this previously, He wanted to be sure we heard it very, very clearly. There is NOTHING that we can do to be saved in our own power. It is 100% the grace of God, because of our faith in the fact that Jesus gave Himself up for us and took upon Himself the sin of the world, that we are saved. Surely we ought not to boast about the fact that we're saved, especially if we might express it in some way that states we have "earned" our salvation by this or that. Now, we know all of these things and I think that most of us believe all of these things. So, why reiterate all of this again? I think it is to point out the last words that God gave to Paul in this section.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

This, at least in my mind, is where the previous verses point. There is a reason that God showed His love and grace toward sinners, ... all of humanity ... , even while we were still in our sin. This, these last words here, is the reason. To do good works. So, what, exactly are these good works? Well, I don't know what they are for you. I can't say what they might be for those around you; your friends, your family, those with whom you attend church. These "good works" are those which have been "prepared in advance for us to do." That means YOUR good works probably are not mine. And MY good works probably aren't yours. Now, they can be, of course, and the good works of one person can easily overlap with another person's, and often that's the case. But, the point is that we need to listen to that "still, small voice" as it speaks into our minds to tell us, to tell you...to tell me, what it is we ought to be doing. Then, we need to go and do it.

Maybe this message is just for me. I don't know. But I feel that it's for others who may read these words, as well. If it seems that it is speaking to you, then you know that God is nudging you...just like He's nudging me. Open up your eyes, your ears, your mind, and your heart. Listen, see, and feel what it is you need to be doing. God will tell you.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David