Faith, Works, and Grace

I was raised believing that we are saved only after "all we can do" ourselves. As James noted in the New Testament, “faith without works is dead.” Faith is manifest by works. If there are no works, there is no faith. That I will always believe. But is it our works that save us?

Consider this from the writings of Paul: “But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:4-9)

In Paul’s day, there were many who believed their works purchased their salvation. Many to whom the outward appearance...the strict observation of the law meant everything. These of the ‘old belief’ had a hard time understanding the "good news" of the gospel; that a clean inward vessel mattered more than a clean outward one, that the spirit of the law could overpower the letter, and that there was someone who loved us enough, to extend the hand of grace, and look beyond the foibles of our nature, and do for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Many years later, I have come to know what I only had an inkling of then, that we are never left to work out our salvation alone, and that if we follow our faith, focused more on loving God and man than our own missteps, it will be enough.

“I was bought by Christ’s goodness, He is not bought by mine.”

I just can’t experience Christ as earned. I was bought by His goodness, He is not bought by mine. My experience will always be as unearned, in great gratitude and thankfulness. And it is this awareness that motivates me to do better, it is what makes my gratitude real.

No matter my sin, when my broken heart turns toward Christ In love, I feel Him near, and I find the strength to do better. There is no fear in this. Only love. If we focus more on our gratitude for the Lord’s mercy than trying to anxiously weigh what we have or haven’t earned, that gratitude will lead us to greater faith, greater works, and greater joy.

TestifyofChrist

October-2016