" For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. "
When I was thinking about what verse to use with the message today this verse jumped out at me. I then realized I hadn't used it yet for a Key Verse. What a shame on my part, this is such a fundamental verse for us to build our lives on.
Ephesians may have been more of a sermon Paul wrote down then just a letter. Much like the letter to the Romans there are fewer personal references to individuals and more of a flow, following an outline. The message of Ephesians is that of unity. Chapters 1-3 our unity with God through Christ. Chapters 4-6 our unity then with one another, built on what God has done for us through the cross of Christ.
These three verses are as simple and profound a statement you will find on our salvation. We don't earn it, we don't deserve it, but we receive it through faith, and even that we are allowed such faith is by grace as a gift from God. We can't brag or boast to others of how special we are that God just had to save us. We are his workmanship, we are immersed in his grace, we have been prepared by him for him.
Paul would elsewhere say where is the boasting? I can't expect for this one thing, Christ died for me. Of that I can boast, but not in myself., but boast in Christ.
When I was thinking about what verse to use with the message today this verse jumped out at me. I then realized I hadn't used it yet for a Key Verse. What a shame on my part, this is such a fundamental verse for us to build our lives on.
Ephesians may have been more of a sermon Paul wrote down then just a letter. Much like the letter to the Romans there are fewer personal references to individuals and more of a flow, following an outline. The message of Ephesians is that of unity. Chapters 1-3 our unity with God through Christ. Chapters 4-6 our unity then with one another, built on what God has done for us through the cross of Christ.
These three verses are as simple and profound a statement you will find on our salvation. We don't earn it, we don't deserve it, but we receive it through faith, and even that we are allowed such faith is by grace as a gift from God. We can't brag or boast to others of how special we are that God just had to save us. We are his workmanship, we are immersed in his grace, we have been prepared by him for him.
Paul would elsewhere say where is the boasting? I can't expect for this one thing, Christ died for me. Of that I can boast, but not in myself., but boast in Christ.
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