God...us - Part 2

Yesterday we looked at Ephesians 1 and found that it was just packed with good stuff.  Ephesians 2 is more of the same.  There are some key life principles in this passage.  Here are a few:

"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. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." - verses 8-10

This is the classic verse that settles the conflict of 'Faith vs. Works' discussion.  There's nothing we do to earn the grace that God has given us.  Some of us need to stop there and just think about that for a moment.  It's a gift of God.  Period.  Do what you normally do when someone gives you a gift of incredible magnitude - you fall all over yourself thanking them. (That's today's definition of worship - falling all over yourself thanking Him!)

Don't stop there though.  

We are God's handiwork. We are specifically fashioned by the Creator of all things to DO something.  What has He made you to do?  Are you doing it?

So we find these two powerful life principles right here: 

1. There's nothing you can do to earn the gift of God's grace.  Stop trying.  Enjoy the gift.

2. After you've received the gift, start doing what you were created to do.  Start doing. Now.

Lots more is in chapter 2 - what stands out to you?

Comments

[Ken Beatty]

The revealed mystery the two will become one through Christ. In the past only the Jews where heirs of the kingdom now those who were far off (Gentiles) now can join in the Promise.

[Cheryl Ramsay]

As Dave and I read chapter 2, the faith vs. works part stood out to us, which is what you talked about in this blog. I had to stop when we read it and I just realized that there's nothing we can do to make ourselves more holy. It is by God's grace and our faith in him that we are saved, that's it! So we should never judge others and think we are more holy because we're doing something "good" for the Lord. Because as this says, our works can't save us, so what makes us think it makes us more holy. It was a good reminder. And even though I've read this verse before, it hit me in this new way...I love when God does that. :)