For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
I quite enjoyed my meditation on these verses this morning. So, here's what I got out of it:
1. I cannot save myself. No one can save his/herself. There's no way.
"And this is not your own doing,"
On the one hand this is awesome! I don't have to worry about trying to save myself. Woohoo! On the other hand it's like, 'My life is doomed... I can't help myself.' I choose to keep the first frame of mind. I get overwhelmed thinking that I have to do everything and that everything in my life is going to happen because I say so and if it doesn't go my way then it's my fault. That's such an awful thought process. God doesn't work that way. I am not Lord of my life, Jesus is. I can't change my fate (for the better) only Jesus can. He's my leader and my captain. I can't save myself. Only Jesus has that capability.
2. Being saved is a gift, NOT a privilege or a right
"it is the gift of God..."
- It's not a privilege in the fact that it can never be taken away. I remember being in daycare as a child and having crayons as a privilege. If we didn't play nice with the crayons then our "crayon privilege" would be taken away for x amount of days. Grace is everlasting. God doesn't want to lose his children. He always wants us right next to him under his wings. He would never take grace away from us.
- It's not a right either. Don't get prideful into thinking that grace is something freely handed to us because we deserve it. We don't deserve grace, or at least I don't. I mess up daily. I could probably make a nice long list of things I've done today alone that I've messed up. This the beauty of grace though. My darkest days in the light are still days in the light.
3. Even though the actual works don't save/provide salvation, it is works that keep us under his grace.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
No, being a "good" person isn't going to be the one thing that gets you to heaven. Once you've made the decision to become of follower of Christ, one of his disciples, a Christian, there is work to be done. You don't just take that leap of faith and stop. No, we were created for good works that have been prepared for us ahead of time.
God is so good. A.M.E.N.
No, I do not understand grace entirely at all. Please don't get that idea, but I am quite grateful for it.
Liz
2. Being saved is a gift, NOT a privilege or a right
"it is the gift of God..."
- It's not a privilege in the fact that it can never be taken away. I remember being in daycare as a child and having crayons as a privilege. If we didn't play nice with the crayons then our "crayon privilege" would be taken away for x amount of days. Grace is everlasting. God doesn't want to lose his children. He always wants us right next to him under his wings. He would never take grace away from us.
- It's not a right either. Don't get prideful into thinking that grace is something freely handed to us because we deserve it. We don't deserve grace, or at least I don't. I mess up daily. I could probably make a nice long list of things I've done today alone that I've messed up. This the beauty of grace though. My darkest days in the light are still days in the light.
3. Even though the actual works don't save/provide salvation, it is works that keep us under his grace.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
No, being a "good" person isn't going to be the one thing that gets you to heaven. Once you've made the decision to become of follower of Christ, one of his disciples, a Christian, there is work to be done. You don't just take that leap of faith and stop. No, we were created for good works that have been prepared for us ahead of time.
God is so good. A.M.E.N.
No, I do not understand grace entirely at all. Please don't get that idea, but I am quite grateful for it.
Liz
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