We are Saved by Grace Not by Works

Verses:  Ephesians 2:1-10

My thoughts about the verses:

Two simple words changed history Jesus Saves.  Yet, we have a hard time believing that these words are enough.  We think I have to do this or that.  We feel that we must earn our salvation.

Yet, Jesus has already done all that is needed for us to be free.  We do not have to do anything except Jesus as our Savior.  Yet, we hear these word and question how this simple task is enough to get rid of what all we have done wrong.  We feel that there must be more.  We must do something to show Jesus our love.

Yet, Jesus says simply come to me.  Accept me and you will have salvation.  Give me your heart and I will give you the love that will fill it.  Give me your soul and you shall find rest.

We hear this but we are a very stubborn people.  We believe that these are only words.  That God wants to see action.  God wants us to work to receive the gift of salvation.  We cannot accept that we can have freedom from our transgressions by handing them over to God.

It is through our stubbornness that we endure years of pain and separation from our God.  Yet, Jesus continues to offer us salvation.  We who finally accept come to realize we did not need anything else.  Our hearts is filled with love.  Our souls are redeemed.

Those that accept God do not have to do anything to earn their salvation.  Yet, there is something that we should do once we have given our lives over to God.  We are to spread the good news to all that will listen.  We need to understand that this doesn’t make us more worthy of God’s grace.  We are just showing God our love. 

Our spreading of good news is a way of sharing our salvation to others.  God is our grace and through us others will come to accept God.  Yet, it is not our words that lead them to God.  Instead it is God working through us.  God can reach the world without us.  Yet, God uses us as vessels to spread the good news.  Glory is to God who saves those that will accept. 

Prayer:

We praise you God for your love.  We worship you for your gift of salvation.  We thank you for giving your life so that we will be made whole.  Help us accept your gift of salvation.  Help us share your love with others.  Use us as a vessel to reach out to those that need salvation, hope and love.  In the name of the Risen Messiah we pray.  Amen

Questions:

Have you accepted Jesus in your life?  Have you accepted that it is by faith that you are set free from the wrongs that you have committed?  Are you willing to share the story of God’s salvation not for your gain but for the gain OF God?