It was the question of
the rich, young ruler of Matthew, chapter 19. It was the question I was
asked by a visitor to our worship last Sunday. "What good thing must
I do to be saved?"
The apostle Paul's answer is not what most people expect to read or hear. Paul writes to the Ephesians that our salvation is not a matter of do but done.
Take another look at Ephesians 2:8-9. Note that we are saved by:
The apostle Paul's answer is not what most people expect to read or hear. Paul writes to the Ephesians that our salvation is not a matter of do but done.
Take another look at Ephesians 2:8-9. Note that we are saved by:
Grace alone through
Faith alone in
Jesus Christ alone without any
Works of my own
Even the good works we
might do in order to try and impress God are not our own. Paul writes
that God prepared those good works in advance for us to do. Such works
flow from a heart filled with gratitude for God's free gift of salvation in
Christ Jesus.
This is good news!
Eternity is not dependent on heeding the advice from Oprah's latest self-help
guru or doing an extreme makeover upon yourself so that you meet the
expectations of our post-Christian world. Trust Christ Jesus for
forgiveness and salvation. He offers His gift without strings
attached. 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. Good news indeed!
