Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation You Can’t Live Without
Have you ever said about something, “I can’t live without it!” Has anything ever been so important to you that you couldn’t imagine your life without it? Sometimes there are things in our lives that it becomes unimaginable to us that life could be lived without those things.
It could be lots of things: a hobby, a spouse, a child, an achievement, a material thing, anger, a substance…? Our lives can be so wrapped up in these things; our identities can be so intertwined with them; and we can be so dependent on them that we say, “I can’t live without it!”
While we may think there are many things in life that we can’t live without, God says that there is one thing we can’t live without. That is salvation. Without salvation you cannot live. John 3:36 strikes powerfully when it says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life [and is saved], but whoever rejects the Son will not see life [he will not be saved], for God’s wrath remains on him.” In the same way Paul says in Ephesians 2:5, “God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”
Salvation is life. Salvation is God bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. Salvation is being made alive in Christ when we were dead in sin. Salvation is what you cannot live without.
Let’s look at our passage a little closer to see what Paul says.
Salvation is Available by God’s Grace (v8a)
First, Paul says that Salvation is Available by God’s Grace. Verse 8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved…”
Memorize this verse. Tattoo it on your hearts. Grace is a word that we as Christians cherish. This word should rouse a big affection in our hearts towards the Lord. When we come across “grace” in the Bible we should smile. We love it because our God who loves us gives it to us. It flows out to us as the expression of His love for us.
“Grace” is the Greek word “charis”. It was a word that was very much loved by the Greek speaking people of Paul’s day. In the Greek-speaking world it was a word that was used to describe the grace between friends. Listen to some ways this word was defined and its meaning described:
“A favor freely done, without claim or expectation of return,
“A favor conferred freely, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver.”
“It was a word also used to describe an act that was beyond the ordinary course of what might be expected, and was therefore commendable.”
That would be those moments when someone gave you something or did something where you say, “Oh, you didn’t have to do that! How nice!” (Yesterday we were at the Fall Chili Party at the Jensen’s and Evan and I were playing pool. He asked if he could have another cookie and so I gave him one. Then he broke it in half and gave me half of the cookie. He didn’t have to give me a piece. I didn’t ask for it. He could have walked away with the cookie and enjoyed the whole thing to himself. But, he wanted me to share in the joy of the cookie with him. So simply from the bounty and free-heartedness in him he shared with me. It was a favor freely given. It was a kind gesture beyond what would have been expected in that moment. He showed me grace.
But I’m his Father. I’m not his enemy – except when he back-talks. The thing to remember here is that the Greek-speaking world used this word to describe these things that happened between friends. Charis was the expression of love for a friend or a loved one.
The NT takes this word beyond the limits of friendship. It is only in the NT that we see this grace, this “charis”, given to those outside of one’s circle of friends and loved ones. It is only in the NT that charis is seen extended to one’s enemies. Never would a Greek done anything of grace towards an enemy. One example I read about was that if a slave was mistreated by his master the expected and normal thing to do was rebel. But, if that slave was patiently submissive it was beyond the ordinary course of what might be expected, and therefore commendable.
This grace is not demonstrated first by men. The NT does not say that this grace was first shown by the Prophets, the Apostle’s, or the early Church. Grace was given in this way first by God. And God gave it to man. This grace is precisely what God gave to us. Listen to Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” You hear the word “love” in this verse but it is love expressed in grace.
A.W. Tozer says, “Grace is that in God which brings into favor one justly in disfavor.” In other words, the thing about God, which allows and motivates Him to move us out from underneath His wrath, and, into a new position under the showers of His kindness, is His Grace. Grace is getting good from Him that we could not earn. Grace is getting good from Him that we should not get. Grace is all the goodness that comes to me from God even though in every way I don’t deserve one good thing.
But that’s grace. Grace gives freely. Grace doesn’t look at you, measure you and give good to you based on how good you are. You aren’t even part of the equation. Actually you are. Because Grace assesses how much you don’t deserve to receive good from God is precisely why grace is given to you. It would not be grace otherwise.
It gives without charging you for what it is giving. There is no demand for repayment with grace. Grace is not a transaction whereby it is seeking a return for what is given. Grace is given freely. Salvation is free. God gives it freely. God gives it to us without a pricetag. His grace is the reason why.
God’s grace is His favor towards us.
There is helplessness before God. We cannot appease Him with a lifetime of Good Works. We cannot turn His wrath away from us if we tried. We cannot change our nature from sinful to holy.
Grace is an attack on our ego. We say we are good enough. Grace says we are not, and Grace comes because we are not.
Grace allows no room for our contribution. Grace assaults our ego. Grace says “Man cannot offer anything acceptable to God.” Where there is the Grace of God there is no place for the works of man. Listen to Paul as he sets grace over and against works here: “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.”
You could live twice as good as Ghandi or Mother Theresa and still be a child of God’s wrath. Man can offer nothing to God that God would accept as payment to save him. Grace attacks our ego.
We are completely and utterly on our faces in shame before God and can only hope that this Holy One of heaven would show mercy and grace. And He does. And He does it through Jesus Christ.
Grace is available through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2 says this, “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
Salvation is Attained through Our Faith (v8)
Salvation is Attained through Our Faith. Verse 8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” Salvation is attained through faith. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In Acts 16 Luke describes the moment of salvation for a jailer, “The Jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Romans 3:22, “This righteousness [salvation] from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Galatians 2:16 Paul says, “[We] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
The loud Gong that the NT keeps banging away at is Salvation can only be attained by faith. Almost 200 times in the NT we see the declaration that it is by faith we are saved. Let us look then at faith.
What is faith? Faith is not awareness of the claims. Atheists are aware of the claims. Faith is not agreeing intellectually to the facts. It is not a commitment to follow the commandments of Jesus. Neither is faith simply believing there is a God. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.”
Biblical Faith is dependence. But it is dependence that excludes dependence on anything else. It is the kind of belief where a heart says there is no other way than this way right here. I will not trust anything else than what God has said. Biblical faith is belief in what God says no matter what anyone else says – including you’re own senses. Faith is when you have conviction that makes you count on nothing else other than God. Faith is when you depend on what you know about Him and what He has said. You put your reliance in Him. That’s Faith.
You see, when the doctor says you have cancer and chemo is the only way that you might get rid of it, you choose to go ahead with chemo. You know that it may not work, but, there is the chance that it will. It’s you’re only “hope”. Biblical faith isn’t like that. Biblical faith is rock solid conviction that God has saved you. Biblical faith is certainty that what God said will in fact be. God said in Numbers 29 God says “Am I a man that I would lie? Do I promise and not fulfill? Do I speak and then not act?”
Faith is the only thing you can offer God for your salvation. He will not accept anything else other than your faith. He will not accept your works. A lifetime of good works will never measure up to God’s standard.
Do you know what it is like to not measure up? Every day we face the issue of whether or not we measure up. Each of us go through life and we end up in different ways trying to be good enough for different things.
Trying out for the team – man I hope I’m good enough to make the team this year. Applying for jobs – well I hope I’m qualified enough for the position. Applying for college – I hope I’ve got what it takes to get in. Hanging out with a certain crowd.
Do you know what it is like to not make the cut? Have you ever felt the disappointment of not being qualified? Has the cold water of not having what it takes been splashed in your face before?
When it comes to eternal matters the same issue is before all of us. Am I going to go to heaven? Do I measure up to the standard that is required for me to go there when I die? How do I know if I make Heaven’s “cut”? Am I good enough to make it in?
Paul has been talking to the Ephesians about God’s grace quite a bit so far. He said “to the praise of His glorious grace” in 1:6. His grace is glorious and we respond rightly when we praise Him for His grace. In 1:7 Paul says, “the riches of God’s grace.” God is super-abounding in grace.
Then in 2:7 Paul says that “in the coming ages God will show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” God will show to all creatures for all the ages to come how gracious He has been to us. Why? As Paul said, “to the praise of His glorious grace.” He will be praised and adored and worshipped because of His grace to us.
What does all this mean?
Salvation Activates a Life of Good Works (v10)
Lastly, Salvation Activates a Life of Good works. Look with me at verse 10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
What place do good works have in the Church? Well first of all, lets banish any notion that reverses the order here. Good works come from our salvation. Good works do not lead to our salvation. This is the fundamental formula that every other religion and philosophy mixes up. Good works are born out of our salvation. Salvation is not born out of our good works.
Often the book of James is mistaken as though it teaches works based salvation. James doesn’t teach that. James teaches Ephesians 2:10. James says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Actions here is the actions of good deeds that God prepared in advance for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Later James says also, “I will show you my faith by what I do.”
Good works are not a suggestion, they are expected for believers. Paul says to Titus, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”
Good works are not only expected of us, but we should be eager for them. Listen to more of what Paul says to Titus, “Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
This is what we try to do with the Deacon Fellowship Fund and the Meal’s Ministry. But it is also what we do spontaneously as individuals or smaller groups when we join together to help someone in need.
Paul says to the Philippians, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” All of these are because we have been “created in Christ Jesus TO DO good works, the good works God prepared for us in advance.”
It is incumbent on us as the Church to be busy with good works. They are what we should be inspired to do. What kind of good works though? Well, I think Ephesians, as well as the NT give us some guidance here. Good works are primarily those done for the benefit, building up of Christ’s Church. Notice chapter 4:12. Paul says that when Christ ascended He gave gifts to the Church “to prepare God’s people for ________________ WORKS OF SERVICE. Well, that’s pretty general, but, if you look at the very next words, “SO THAT, the Body of Christ may be built up…” The focus of good works that we as Christians are to be pre-occupied with are those good works that build up the Church. Enough with Seeker-sensitivity. Enough with Social Justice. Enough with Redeeming Cultures for Christ. You can’t redeem that which is not regenerated.
This does not mean that we exclude ourselves from helping people outside of the Church. John says
Salvation You Can’t Live Without
Have you ever said about something, “I can’t live without it!” Has anything ever been so important to you that you couldn’t imagine your life without it? Sometimes there are things in our lives that it becomes unimaginable to us that life could be lived without those things.
It could be lots of things: a hobby, a spouse, a child, an achievement, a material thing, anger, a substance…? Our lives can be so wrapped up in these things; our identities can be so intertwined with them; and we can be so dependent on them that we say, “I can’t live without it!”
While we may think there are many things in life that we can’t live without, God says that there is one thing we can’t live without. That is salvation. Without salvation you cannot live. John 3:36 strikes powerfully when it says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life [and is saved], but whoever rejects the Son will not see life [he will not be saved], for God’s wrath remains on him.” In the same way Paul says in Ephesians 2:5, “God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”
Salvation is life. Salvation is God bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. Salvation is being made alive in Christ when we were dead in sin. Salvation is what you cannot live without.
Let’s look at our passage a little closer to see what Paul says.
Salvation is Available by God’s Grace (v8a)
First, Paul says that Salvation is Available by God’s Grace. Verse 8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved…”
Memorize this verse. Tattoo it on your hearts. Grace is a word that we as Christians cherish. This word should rouse a big affection in our hearts towards the Lord. When we come across “grace” in the Bible we should smile. We love it because our God who loves us gives it to us. It flows out to us as the expression of His love for us.
“Grace” is the Greek word “charis”. It was a word that was very much loved by the Greek speaking people of Paul’s day. In the Greek-speaking world it was a word that was used to describe the grace between friends. Listen to some ways this word was defined and its meaning described:
“A favor freely done, without claim or expectation of return,
“A favor conferred freely, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver.”
“It was a word also used to describe an act that was beyond the ordinary course of what might be expected, and was therefore commendable.”
That would be those moments when someone gave you something or did something where you say, “Oh, you didn’t have to do that! How nice!” (Yesterday we were at the Fall Chili Party at the Jensen’s and Evan and I were playing pool. He asked if he could have another cookie and so I gave him one. Then he broke it in half and gave me half of the cookie. He didn’t have to give me a piece. I didn’t ask for it. He could have walked away with the cookie and enjoyed the whole thing to himself. But, he wanted me to share in the joy of the cookie with him. So simply from the bounty and free-heartedness in him he shared with me. It was a favor freely given. It was a kind gesture beyond what would have been expected in that moment. He showed me grace.
But I’m his Father. I’m not his enemy – except when he back-talks. The thing to remember here is that the Greek-speaking world used this word to describe these things that happened between friends. Charis was the expression of love for a friend or a loved one.
The NT takes this word beyond the limits of friendship. It is only in the NT that we see this grace, this “charis”, given to those outside of one’s circle of friends and loved ones. It is only in the NT that charis is seen extended to one’s enemies. Never would a Greek done anything of grace towards an enemy. One example I read about was that if a slave was mistreated by his master the expected and normal thing to do was rebel. But, if that slave was patiently submissive it was beyond the ordinary course of what might be expected, and therefore commendable.
This grace is not demonstrated first by men. The NT does not say that this grace was first shown by the Prophets, the Apostle’s, or the early Church. Grace was given in this way first by God. And God gave it to man. This grace is precisely what God gave to us. Listen to Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” You hear the word “love” in this verse but it is love expressed in grace.
A.W. Tozer says, “Grace is that in God which brings into favor one justly in disfavor.” In other words, the thing about God, which allows and motivates Him to move us out from underneath His wrath, and, into a new position under the showers of His kindness, is His Grace. Grace is getting good from Him that we could not earn. Grace is getting good from Him that we should not get. Grace is all the goodness that comes to me from God even though in every way I don’t deserve one good thing.
But that’s grace. Grace gives freely. Grace doesn’t look at you, measure you and give good to you based on how good you are. You aren’t even part of the equation. Actually you are. Because Grace assesses how much you don’t deserve to receive good from God is precisely why grace is given to you. It would not be grace otherwise.
It gives without charging you for what it is giving. There is no demand for repayment with grace. Grace is not a transaction whereby it is seeking a return for what is given. Grace is given freely. Salvation is free. God gives it freely. God gives it to us without a pricetag. His grace is the reason why.
God’s grace is His favor towards us.
There is helplessness before God. We cannot appease Him with a lifetime of Good Works. We cannot turn His wrath away from us if we tried. We cannot change our nature from sinful to holy.
Grace is an attack on our ego. We say we are good enough. Grace says we are not, and Grace comes because we are not.
Grace allows no room for our contribution. Grace assaults our ego. Grace says “Man cannot offer anything acceptable to God.” Where there is the Grace of God there is no place for the works of man. Listen to Paul as he sets grace over and against works here: “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.”
You could live twice as good as Ghandi or Mother Theresa and still be a child of God’s wrath. Man can offer nothing to God that God would accept as payment to save him. Grace attacks our ego.
We are completely and utterly on our faces in shame before God and can only hope that this Holy One of heaven would show mercy and grace. And He does. And He does it through Jesus Christ.
Grace is available through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2 says this, “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
Salvation is Attained through Our Faith (v8)
Salvation is Attained through Our Faith. Verse 8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” Salvation is attained through faith. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In Acts 16 Luke describes the moment of salvation for a jailer, “The Jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Romans 3:22, “This righteousness [salvation] from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Galatians 2:16 Paul says, “[We] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
The loud Gong that the NT keeps banging away at is Salvation can only be attained by faith. Almost 200 times in the NT we see the declaration that it is by faith we are saved. Let us look then at faith.
What is faith? Faith is not awareness of the claims. Atheists are aware of the claims. Faith is not agreeing intellectually to the facts. It is not a commitment to follow the commandments of Jesus. Neither is faith simply believing there is a God. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.”
Biblical Faith is dependence. But it is dependence that excludes dependence on anything else. It is the kind of belief where a heart says there is no other way than this way right here. I will not trust anything else than what God has said. Biblical faith is belief in what God says no matter what anyone else says – including you’re own senses. Faith is when you have conviction that makes you count on nothing else other than God. Faith is when you depend on what you know about Him and what He has said. You put your reliance in Him. That’s Faith.
You see, when the doctor says you have cancer and chemo is the only way that you might get rid of it, you choose to go ahead with chemo. You know that it may not work, but, there is the chance that it will. It’s you’re only “hope”. Biblical faith isn’t like that. Biblical faith is rock solid conviction that God has saved you. Biblical faith is certainty that what God said will in fact be. God said in Numbers 29 God says “Am I a man that I would lie? Do I promise and not fulfill? Do I speak and then not act?”
Faith is the only thing you can offer God for your salvation. He will not accept anything else other than your faith. He will not accept your works. A lifetime of good works will never measure up to God’s standard.
Do you know what it is like to not measure up? Every day we face the issue of whether or not we measure up. Each of us go through life and we end up in different ways trying to be good enough for different things.
Trying out for the team – man I hope I’m good enough to make the team this year. Applying for jobs – well I hope I’m qualified enough for the position. Applying for college – I hope I’ve got what it takes to get in. Hanging out with a certain crowd.
Do you know what it is like to not make the cut? Have you ever felt the disappointment of not being qualified? Has the cold water of not having what it takes been splashed in your face before?
When it comes to eternal matters the same issue is before all of us. Am I going to go to heaven? Do I measure up to the standard that is required for me to go there when I die? How do I know if I make Heaven’s “cut”? Am I good enough to make it in?
Paul has been talking to the Ephesians about God’s grace quite a bit so far. He said “to the praise of His glorious grace” in 1:6. His grace is glorious and we respond rightly when we praise Him for His grace. In 1:7 Paul says, “the riches of God’s grace.” God is super-abounding in grace.
Then in 2:7 Paul says that “in the coming ages God will show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” God will show to all creatures for all the ages to come how gracious He has been to us. Why? As Paul said, “to the praise of His glorious grace.” He will be praised and adored and worshipped because of His grace to us.
What does all this mean?
Salvation Activates a Life of Good Works (v10)
Lastly, Salvation Activates a Life of Good works. Look with me at verse 10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
What place do good works have in the Church? Well first of all, lets banish any notion that reverses the order here. Good works come from our salvation. Good works do not lead to our salvation. This is the fundamental formula that every other religion and philosophy mixes up. Good works are born out of our salvation. Salvation is not born out of our good works.
Often the book of James is mistaken as though it teaches works based salvation. James doesn’t teach that. James teaches Ephesians 2:10. James says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Actions here is the actions of good deeds that God prepared in advance for those who believe in Jesus Christ. Later James says also, “I will show you my faith by what I do.”
Good works are not a suggestion, they are expected for believers. Paul says to Titus, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”
Good works are not only expected of us, but we should be eager for them. Listen to more of what Paul says to Titus, “Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
This is what we try to do with the Deacon Fellowship Fund and the Meal’s Ministry. But it is also what we do spontaneously as individuals or smaller groups when we join together to help someone in need.
Paul says to the Philippians, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” All of these are because we have been “created in Christ Jesus TO DO good works, the good works God prepared for us in advance.”
It is incumbent on us as the Church to be busy with good works. They are what we should be inspired to do. What kind of good works though? Well, I think Ephesians, as well as the NT give us some guidance here. Good works are primarily those done for the benefit, building up of Christ’s Church. Notice chapter 4:12. Paul says that when Christ ascended He gave gifts to the Church “to prepare God’s people for ________________ WORKS OF SERVICE. Well, that’s pretty general, but, if you look at the very next words, “SO THAT, the Body of Christ may be built up…” The focus of good works that we as Christians are to be pre-occupied with are those good works that build up the Church. Enough with Seeker-sensitivity. Enough with Social Justice. Enough with Redeeming Cultures for Christ. You can’t redeem that which is not regenerated.
This does not mean that we exclude ourselves from helping people outside of the Church. John says
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