A Life That Honors God
Eph 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, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
In a church so gospel oriented, focusing on works can almost feel wrong. Many of us are recovering fundamentalists who bore the burden of works-based religion. We have felt the soul-crushing pressure to perform and the frustration of our constant failures. Works triggers our ecclesiological PTSD. I suppose that is what drove the reformer Martin Luther to rip the book of James out of the Bible, an overreaction if there ever was one.
But this shouldn’t be the case. The Apostle Paul felt no disharmony in preaching gospel grace followed by a life of works. Ephesians 2:1-9 is well known here at CCF. We were dead in our trespasses and sins (vv. 1-3), but the grace of God made us alive with Christ (vv. 4-7), and we have been given the gift of faith and salvation (vv. 8-9). Paul is emphatically clear – this is all by the grace of God, NOT of works (v. 9). Yet, far too often we don’t connect the first 9 verses with verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. In point of fact, verses 1-10 are a single run-on sentence in the Greek. To leave off verse 10 is to not allow Paul to finish his thought. So, no, we are not saved by our works; We are saved by God’s work, and he has predestined us to live a life that honors him.
Here’s how I like to think of it: There is no way a person can meet Jesus by grace and not live a changed life, a life for his glory. The grace of God in our lives not only produces faith and repentance, it also produces fruit and works. Now, let’s be clear: These works earn us zero merit before God. My assurance of salvation does not rest in my works – it rests solely on the finished work of Jesus. Whatever fruit and works my life produces is for the edification of the saints and the glory of King Jesus. Nevertheless, to some degree, they vindicate our testimony (cf. James 2:24).
So, Beloved, live a life that honors God. Yes, you will fail. Yes, you will falter. Despite the errant theology of triumphalism (i.e., Keswick theology), we will never feel as if we’ve conquered the spiritual mountain top. But, can I be honest with you? Our faith is not dependent on our feelings. One day our faith will be turned to sight, and we will rejoice at the throne of Jesus forever knowing that He has done it all. In the mean time, may our lives be lived to the honor of our Lord.
Pastor Matthew
In a church so gospel oriented, focusing on works can almost feel wrong. Many of us are recovering fundamentalists who bore the burden of works-based religion. We have felt the soul-crushing pressure to perform and the frustration of our constant failures. Works triggers our ecclesiological PTSD. I suppose that is what drove the reformer Martin Luther to rip the book of James out of the Bible, an overreaction if there ever was one.
But this shouldn’t be the case. The Apostle Paul felt no disharmony in preaching gospel grace followed by a life of works. Ephesians 2:1-9 is well known here at CCF. We were dead in our trespasses and sins (vv. 1-3), but the grace of God made us alive with Christ (vv. 4-7), and we have been given the gift of faith and salvation (vv. 8-9). Paul is emphatically clear – this is all by the grace of God, NOT of works (v. 9). Yet, far too often we don’t connect the first 9 verses with verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. In point of fact, verses 1-10 are a single run-on sentence in the Greek. To leave off verse 10 is to not allow Paul to finish his thought. So, no, we are not saved by our works; We are saved by God’s work, and he has predestined us to live a life that honors him.
Here’s how I like to think of it: There is no way a person can meet Jesus by grace and not live a changed life, a life for his glory. The grace of God in our lives not only produces faith and repentance, it also produces fruit and works. Now, let’s be clear: These works earn us zero merit before God. My assurance of salvation does not rest in my works – it rests solely on the finished work of Jesus. Whatever fruit and works my life produces is for the edification of the saints and the glory of King Jesus. Nevertheless, to some degree, they vindicate our testimony (cf. James 2:24).
So, Beloved, live a life that honors God. Yes, you will fail. Yes, you will falter. Despite the errant theology of triumphalism (i.e., Keswick theology), we will never feel as if we’ve conquered the spiritual mountain top. But, can I be honest with you? Our faith is not dependent on our feelings. One day our faith will be turned to sight, and we will rejoice at the throne of Jesus forever knowing that He has done it all. In the mean time, may our lives be lived to the honor of our Lord.
Pastor Matthew
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