Faith, Grace, Works
- Aug 19, 2024
- 6 min read
INTRODUCTION :
Last week we started our first week on obedience and as we investigate obedience to God, we need to understand the relationship between grace, faith and works. Frequently, Christians draw such a sharp contrast between these concepts that they almost seem incompatible.
As we look at today’s passage, we are faced with a significant truth about works as it relates to grace and our salvation. Not only are we saved by grace through faith, but by that same grace, we are created as God’s workmanship for predetermined tasks especially prepared for us. This also speaks to our identity in Christ and the purposes for which we were created.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Main Points of the Passage:
Salvation is a gift from God
Salvation is not something that can be earned, and it's not a result of good works. Instead, God chooses to save sinners based on his kindness. The Greek word for "grace" in this verse is karis, which means "kindness" or "favor".
Faith is necessary
Faith is the only way to receive salvation, and it's a relational word that describes trust and reliance on God. Trust is built when people do what God asks, even when they're unsure of the outcome. In the case of Faith and Salvation, it is faith in Jesus and Him alone for your salvation, nothing you can do to earn it.
Good works glorify God
Although salvation doesn't come from good works, people are saved for the purpose of doing good works, which God has prepared in advance for them. Boasting of one's own achievements is out of place, and instead believers give glory and praise to God for who he is and what he's done. These works done “post” salvation are the works prepared in advance by God for the Believer.
Relationship Between Faith, Grace and Works
We are saved by the grace of God. This is a gift from God, one that is not deserved or earned, but it does require something from us: God requires our faith. Without faith this is impossible- it all hinges on this.
God's rules and commands are actually grace in action. We should maintain the perspective that his laws and commands are grace towards us because they protect us, they are not there to control us. Protective not punitive – the judgment and punishment have already been taken care of on the cross
Grace is opposed to earning but not effort. We can never earn holiness or godliness but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t take a lot of work to become godly
We are saved by grace but SERVE through works and God has already determined the specific works he would have us do for his kingdom
The fact that we are not saved by works is God's gift to us. In his mercy he has NOT set us up for failure but success through faith. Grace is the power of God in us through the Holy Spirit to fight against the corruptions of the flesh. It is also the power in us to love and serve others instead. - Grace is not passive- it is powerful. (Gal 5: 16-18) says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
As our Creator, God gives us our Identity and Purpose
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” David writes in Psalm 139:13-16 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” David knew that he was God’s workmanship, that God designed him with a purpose, not just an overall purpose but a purpose for each and every day of his life.
Matthew 11:28-30 is a scripture most of you are familiar with. In this passage, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” ESV.
Yokes were designed for work. The last part of this scripture where Jesus says his yoke is easy speaks to our design to fulfill His purpose. Jesus was a carpenter and yokes were one of the primary products He would have created. He wouldn’t make a bunch of yokes as a one size fits all, he would actually measure the animal and handcraft the yoke to fit that particular animal. A yoke that is too big or too small is burdensome and would be detrimental to the animal as well as to the work needing to be done.
When we see the word easy, that word in Greek is Chrestos which translates to “fit for use” or well fitting. In other words, Jesus is saying that the yoke he handcrafted for you fits you well. You were designed perfectly to fulfill the purposes and callings that God has on your life which were written for you before you were born. He designed you with your physical makeup, emotional makeup, unique giftings, strengths, and weaknesses for the purpose of fulfilling your calling. Your yoke is God’s calling on your life and it fits you well.
This isn’t to be done independently, however. A yoke is not meant to be put on us and then we are to cut loose on our own, but rather to be yoked or connected with God to complete His work by being obedient to go and do what He leads us to do. Understand that putting on His yoke is stepping into obedience! It requires being obedient to God’s leading in order to fulfill the work that he designed for you, the work he designed while you were being knit together in your mom’s womb.
There is an enemy who wants nothing more than for you to not fulfill the purposes you were designed for. God created you with a need to be reconciled with your purpose. This is why when you are outside of His purpose there isn’t joy, peace or contentment. It is only in walking out God’s purpose, taking His yoke, that we find rest for our souls as Jesus describes in the Matthew verse.
CONCLUSION:
God determined that we would be made by him in Christ for good works so that we would walk in those good works. Good works are why we are here. These good works do not save us, as Paul already carefully pointed out. These works are the evidence that we are God's workmanship. Your charge as you leave here today is to walk in the fullness of who God created you to be, the living workmanship of God’s love and grace. Amen!
Thoughts/Questions To Consider:
Grace is not just a passive gift - but it is power. What do you think that means? How does grace work to transform our lives?
How do you see the connections between “grace”, “faith”, and “works” in your life?
Are you striving to live out the fullness of who God created you to be and, if not, what is getting in the way?
Today’s Scriptures:
Ephesians 2:8-10
Galatians 5:16-18
Psalm 139:13-16
Matthew 11:28-30