September 25, 2022

Good News Today

Ephesians 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.

Friends, the good news today says GOOD WORKS ARE EVIDENCE, NOT MEANS OF SALVATION.

When I open the gate this morning, an old lady who is passing by greeted me ” Bro Gani, how are you? I answered ” In Gods grace I’m good”. I know the old lady for quite a while and our “mahabang Kumustahan” happened to touch good works and salvation. I always take the opportunity to share the good news. I’m quite sure, because she knows me, she will listen. I shared to her the above text Ephesians 2:8-9.

The above passage of Scripture makes it clear that salvation and eternal life are not obtained through human effort (i. e. our good works, keeping the law, etc.), but is according to God’s mercy and grace bestowed on those who “believe” on Jesus Christ, His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and deliverance from hell.

Salvation is not only deliverance from the penalty of sin (which is hell after death), but also deliverance from the power of sin in this life. “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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (cited verse).

Friends, our text is very clear, we are not saved by good works. In fact, before we are saved, our works are done in the flesh and cannot please God; even our most “righteous” deeds fall far short of God’s glory (Romans 3:20 and Isaiah 64:6). We can be saved only because God is gracious and merciful and has designed a way for us to be declared righteous when we are not (Psalm 86:5; Ephesians 2:4).

God bless us all. Let’s keep the faith.