Why is it important to understand salvation is "not by works"? Standing on the Text “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Why “Not by Works” Changes Everything • God gets all the glory—none of it can stick to us. • Salvation rests on grace that never shifts, instead of on performance that always does. • Boasting is silenced, humility is born, unity in the church is protected. • Assurance becomes possible: if works did not purchase salvation, failed works cannot forfeit it. • Freedom is released for genuine good works that flow from gratitude, not fear. Scripture Echoes That Drive the Point Home • Romans 3:20 — “Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law…” • Titus 3:5 — “He saved us, not by works of righteousness we had done, but according to His mercy…” • Isaiah 64:6 — “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” • Galatians 2:16 — “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…” All reinforce the same melody: grace alone saves. What’s at Stake When We Forget • We drift into legalism, measuring acceptance by spiritual mileage. • Joy evaporates under the weight of “never enough.” • The finished work of Christ (“It is finished,” John 19:30) gets treated as merely started. The Right Response to Free Grace • Rest—Hebrews 4:10 calls believers to cease from their own works. • Thanksgiving—Psalm 116:12-13 asks, “How can I repay the LORD…? I will lift the cup of salvation.” • Eager obedience—Ephesians 2:10 follows immediately: “For we are His workmanship…prepared in advance for us to do.” Works are fruit, not root. Living It Out • Preach the gospel to yourself daily: Christ’s merit, not mine. • Reject comparison games; grace levels the field. • Serve energetically, knowing love, not labor, motivates. • When you fail, run to the cross, not the treadmill. Salvation is a gift, pure and simple—understanding that keeps the soul light, the heart humble, and the hands ready for every good work. |
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