Saved By Grace

Oct 30th, 2025
Eph 2:8,9
 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:.. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

What do we need to be saved from? The word saved implies that we need help, or we need to be recused. Saved from a life-threatening situation. When someone is lost in the mountains, a rescue team is sent out to save them and bring them back safely. Spiritually, we are all lost. Every human being born into this world is born with a sin nature. No matter where we were born, or who our parents are, we all must come to the realization that we are sinners, with a bent to satisfy the sinful flesh. As civilized human beings, we are also created in the image of God and God has instilled within each one of us a conscience to do good. But sin is ever present, tempting us to put ourselves and our wants first. Therefore, we need to be saved from this sinful nature, because sin will destroy and will eventually lead to eternal death (hell). We cannot redeem ourselves. No matter how many good deeds we do, it cannot save us from the sin that we were born with. Jesus came to earth and did many good works, but His main purpose in coming was more than just setting a good example of how to live, but He came to save us from our sin and set us free from the bondage of sin. So by the grace of God, God the Father sent His Son to die and pay the debt for the sins of the world. It is grace, a gift that we receive by believing that the blood that Jesus shed on the cross, giving His life, can and will bring forgiveness of sin. Many believe that their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds and God will see all the good things they have done on earth and let them in through the gates of heaven. But the truth given to us in the Word of God is that there is only one way, and that is through the forgiveness of sin provided by Jesus Christ. Isaiah says, “All our righteousness are as filthy rags.” I have been to many memorial services, and the accolades of their good works are made known, and many truly were good and kind people, but salvation is not possible by good works lest any man should boast. A person who is saved through Christ will manifest good works. The Holy Spirit does a work in the believer, and the fruit of the Spirit will be manifested as they walk in the light of God. So good work is an outcome of our faith, and not the way to have eternal life after death. So faith in Christ is essential to salvation. His grace is sufficient to save us from all sin.

Jesus Came to Save Sinners

 1 Tim 1:15
 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Jesus came to earth for many reasons. He came to show us how to live and love. He was the supreme example, showing us how we should treat our neighbors and even our enemies. His message of the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew chapters 5-7, is a call to a higher righteousness and a life of love, compassion, and selflessness, emphasizing humility, forgiveness, and living according to God's kingdom rather than worldly concerns. Many religious leaders and founders of various religions have also proclaimed this message. There is no doubt the centrality of human desire to those who want to live in peace on this earth is to follow this teaching. But man is born in sin and no amount of good works can alter the fate of man’s condition and ultimate fate.  For all have sinned and are eternally lost without God’s forgiveness. Christ came to earth to be the supreme sacrifice for the sins of humanity. He came into the world to save sinners. We may see ourselves as good people who desire to live in harmony with others. We may have lived respectable lives, keeping the law and doing good.  Surely, this is what it takes to enter eternal life with God after death.  Compared to the “chief of sinners” who surely desire eternal punishment, we would not commit such hideous acts. The reality is that without Christ and His death on the cross we would all be lost and are the “chief of sinners” in the sight of God.  Jesus, the greatest man to ever walk the earth, died to bridge the gap between man and God.  Yes, He came and preached love and forgiveness, but greater than all that, He came to the world to save sinners. I am glad He included me and you!

Alienated from God, but Reconciled

Col 1:21,22
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

It is only through the blood of Christ, the blood that was shed on the cross that we can stand before a holy God and be presented unblameable. We are all born in sin and the works of the flesh are seen in our lives at an early age. The tendency is to put self first. Many times the good work we do is done to compensate for the selfish things that we do. Balance out the bad by doing good. The works of the flesh alienate us from God, and we believe that if we do things that are kind and helpful that we can in some way get God’s approval. Works not done by faith or love for God, or anything done without the Holy Spirit is a “work of the flesh.”  The teaching that humanity is basically good, and only needs to be trained and put in the right environment to do what is right is inaccurate. We do see moments during natural disasters of people coming together to help each other. This is a natural desire of survival and a God given desire to reach out to humanity, but such actions do not negate the fact that man is basically self-centered and seeks to please and satisfy himself, disregarding God's desire. Wicked works cause a separation between God and us. Yet now, we are part of the body of Christ and no longer do the works of the flesh. We align ourselves with the works of the Spirit, and manifest the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. This is the natural desire for the person who is sanctified and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live unblamable in this present world.

Not By Our Works

 Titus 3:4,5
But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

It is a marvel to think that a holy God would consider dwelling with sinful humanity is beyond my comprehension. Man is inherently influenced toward selfishness. There is a part of man that desires to do good and will manifest this goodness through acts of mercy and human compassion. Humanity has the capacity to love, born from being made in the image of God. Civilization has worked to cultivate this goodness, creating laws and statues to help govern the behavior of people to act civilized. The influence of religious organizations has contributed to this influence by teaching us to be kind to each other. Jesus Himself, in the Sermon on the Mount taught us to love your neighbor as yourself. But being good is not enough, for all have sinned and come short of redemption. Our good works come short of meeting the requirement for atonement for sin. But God, in His tender mercy and love sent His Son to pay the price for our redemption. He died on the cross, the sinless One, the lamb of God who is able to take away the sins of the world paid the debt that was ours. Through His death and resurrection we now can have new life, The Holy Spirit is given to us, purifying our hearts by faith. The world is filled with good people doing their best, and only God knows the heart of man, but salvation does not come by good works that we have done, but by faith in the One who is able to save us to the utmost.

Doing Good on the Sabbath

 Mat. 12:12b
…So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 
The Pharisee in Jesus time made many laws based on their scripture interpretation of the Torah. It was clear in the Torah that work was not to be done on the Sabbath. “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work..”(Ex 20:9,10). It was one of the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses. From this, the Pharisee broke down the daily tasks that they thought were things that should not be done and things that were allowed on the Sabbath. They were man made rules that were brought about by human interpretation. I don’t claim to know the mind of God in regards to what can and cannot be done on the Lord’s Day (Christian Sabbath), but God did set apart one day of the week and made it special. Jesus did not do away with keeping this day special, but He did correct the mis-interpretation that the Pharisee had. “And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:37,28) The Sabbath was not made to bring man into bondage, but was made to provide man a day to rest from their labors to focus on the things of God. Jesus said it was a good thing to help others and to minister acts of mercy on this day. Reaching out to help others who are hurting and are in need of God’s touch. What this looks like in today’s world and culture may not look the same for everyone. We should approach the Sabbath with the expectation of doing good. In the spirit of keeping the Sabbath holy, we avoid work that we normally do the other six days. We stay within the spirit of the law to do what is good and right. Let us enter into His house with thanksgiving on Sunday morning, let us put aside those things that distract us from worship and do what is good on the Sabbath. 

God's Purpose

 Acts 9:36
 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.
Tabitha was known for her ministry in making clothes for those in need. Her life was spent helping others and giving herself to make life easier on others. When she passed away, many gathered to mourn her passing. Upon hearing that Peter and his disciples were nearby, they sent messengers to have him come. It is unclear if they just wanted Peter to come and pay respects, or if they hoped for a miracle. It was God’s will that a miracle happen. Miracles don’t always happen just because we pray they will. God always has a purpose to manifest his power. God was not done with Tabitha. The miracle from death to life brought many to believe in Christ. Tabitha was not a preacher, she was a woman who demonstrated Christ in her life through her good works and giving her life to the service of helping people. No doubt, after God raised her from the dead, she continued to be faithful in making garments and giving to others who had needs.

All Your Heart

Jeremiah 29:13

 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

We are saved by grace and grace alone, but grace cannot be obtained without a willful seeking of Him. How can you find God? We are not saved by any works of good deeds, or high moral standards. God’s word gives us direction and instruction on how we are to live if we are going to be a follower of Christ, but it is not in the things we do that will bring us to God, but in the obedience and trust we put in Him. God said, if you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. ALL YOUR HEART, is what He requires if we are to find Him. What does “all your heart” mean? There is no holding back, He is all we hope and desire. Our affection are set on Him and Him alone. There is no room for self and things that break the heart of God. We desire to keep His commandments, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments''. Finding Him will require full submission to His will and way. Abandon your heart to find Him. He will be there waiting for you. 

Doing Good Deeds

 1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

It is said that actions speak louder than words. The Bible teaches us that words alone are not enough to prove our love for God or others. We can say we love God, but our actions say otherwise. Like faith and works, love and works go hand in hand. It is good that we speak words of kindness and appreciation, verbalizing our love for others, but where the rubber hits the road is when we demonstrate our love by giving ourselves and time to others who are in need. We will not be able to always give to everyone in need, or for every cause that is present, but God is faithful to lead each of us to give when the opportunity is open to us, and His spirit prompts us into action. Doing good deeds for others does not necessarily mean we are showing love. We must do so with truth, and with pure motives. Let us walk the talk, and manifest Christ in a world that is hurting and in need of special healing.

Flee Sin

 1 Peter 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Dear loved ones, we are just passing through this life, we are not of this world. We are different, born again and now a part of the family of God. I admonish and urge you that you stay away from those things that cause your soul to become lean. Flee fleshly desires that grieve the Holy Spirit and will cause you to fall from the grace of God. Show the world that it is possible to live with a good conscience and not sin in word and deed. The world will see that your life is good and holy and will know that God is real. Let your light shine, so that others will see your good works, and see Christ in you.

Weary in Well Doing

 Galatians 6: 9 , 10a
 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not… As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…

It is not uncommon to become weary of performing a task and not seeing any results. Weariness leads to discouragement and eventually giving up the task. Whether it be in praying, witnessing, or investing time in ministry, when our efforts do not bear fruit, we reflect on the profitability of time spent. And maybe we need to rethink and examine and try something different, but Paul says our efforts are not in vain, even when we don’t see results. In due season, eternity will reveal that we were faithful to the kingdom work and there will be a day of reaping. It is our responsibility to sow the seed of well doing and good works, remain faithful to the task that God has given you, and leave the results to God.

Weary in Well Doing

 Galatians 6: 9 , 10a
 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not… As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…

It is not uncommon to become weary of performing a task and not seeing any results. Weariness leads to discouragement and eventually giving up the task. Whether it be in praying, witnessing, or investing time in ministry, when our efforts do not bear fruit, we reflect on the profitability of time spent. And maybe we need to rethink and examine and try something different, but Paul says our efforts are not in vain, even when we don’t see results. In due season, eternity will reveal that we were faithful to the kingdom work and there will be a day of reaping. It is our responsibility to sow the seed of well doing and good works, remain faithful to the task that God has given you, and leave the results to God.

Philippians 1:6, 9 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:..And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

The journey we are on is filled with perils and distractions. We start out with the intentions to live our lives for God. He has preformed a work in our hearts that has changed the way we live. We now live by the grace of God and continue to grow each day by partaking of this grace. The journey requires that we continue to grow in love and in the knowledge of Christ.   The danger is that we can become careless and indifferent to the things that will hinder our walk with Christ. How do we stay alert? Prayer is the key to a successful Christian life. It is through prayer that we can overcome the pitfall of life. By praying for the Holy Spirit to help us to continue to bear the fruits of righteousness and to live our lives to the glory of God.

The Gift of God

Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:..Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As good and kind as we try to be, it is not the key that unlocks the door to eternal life. By no fault of our own, we are all born in sin. The fall of Adam and Eve place the curse of sin on all humanity. At birth, lays within us an enmity against God that refuses to submit to the will of God. But God has also put in each of us a desire to know Him. The struggle between good and evil is the conflict of ages. The victory over evil cannot be achieved by doing or being good. Sin must be removed, sin must be cast out, sin must be destroyed. All our goodness and righteousness is but filthy rags, it will never be able to make us clean and fit. God so loved humanity, that He sent us a gift, His only Son, Jesus Christ to earth. His life paved the pathway giving us an example how to live good and righteous, but that example was not enough. The gift of God was to provide a way to remove sin. The propitiation was made, Christ died on the cross and shed His blood for our sin. By this grace are we now able to come boldly into God’s presence. This gift of God is only obtained through faith in believing that Jesus died for our sins and through His blood we are made clean. It is this grace that gives us the earnest desire to do good works and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Doing what is right and good is product of our faith. Faith ceases to exist when our deeds become evil. It is the lost of faith that separates us from God, manifested by our works. No amount of works will save us without believe and accepting Jesus as our propitiation for sin.

Opportunity

Gal. 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Opportunity is a window of time given to us by God to do something good. Such opportunity often go unnoticed because we are too occupied with making sure that all our needs are being met. We get busy with legitimate things in life and fail to look for those windows of time when we can do something good for someone else. We sometimes have to go out of way to make those opportunities happen. Sacrifice may be involved when the window of time is open, and we need to be willing to say yes to the Holy Spirit as He whispers to us to seize the moment. May God help us to be alert and take advantage of those times, He desires us to be a blessing to others, let us be aware of our surroundings and do good to all men.

Work in Progress

Eph. 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforehand ordained, that we should walk in them.-

We are a work in progress. He is the Potter we are the clay. The work continues daily and each day we become more like Jesus. We must be willing to submit our lives into the hand of God. He is the master of taking something that is worthless and making it valuable. Sin in our lives marred His work. He desires that we live spotless from the world and walk in good works. The works of Satan hinders the development of His workmanship. There are things in our lives that He wants to remove and change. He will show us the way to go and the way to walk. As a new creation in Christ, He changes our lives to reflect His image. It will change the way we think. Our lips will speak only what pleases Him, we abstain from that which is evil and unholy, we walk in holiness and our fruit of our lives is seen in the way we treat others. This is a work in progress, He is still working on me.

The Way of Life

Eph 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforehand ordained, that we should walk in them.”-

The way of life for a Christian is to live to follow Christ. Follow Him in the way He lived. He came to earth not only that He may save us from our sins, but also came to show us how to live. We who are now born again, made new through redemption, His workmanship to fulfill His will and desire. We now walk the path that He walks, the path of love, doing good works, helping others in need, giving of ourselves willing, serving others as Christ came to serve. It has always been God’s plan that we live life in harmony with each other, that we show forth His love by loving those around us. There are those in the world that we find it hard to love. Their life is full of selfish living and they care not who they hurt as they seek to please themselves. Satan has blinded their eyes to what is right and holy. We are His feet, we are His arms and hands. We are His workmanship, created to glorify Him and do the work that will bring others to Him.