“Good Works” – Ephesians 2:8-10
Ephesians 2:8-10 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.
Mark 9:35b If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
There is nothing more Christlike one person can do for another than to truly serve them in love.
The reality that we have been saved to serve means aligning our expectations with God’s intention.
I. Faithful Servants Are
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:14a For the love of Christ constraineth us.
II. Faithful Servants Are
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
When your service to God can truly come from your heart to His, it changes everything.
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
III. Faithful Servants Are
Ephesians 2:10a For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
All believers are a new creation in Jesus, but He gifts us for our specific tasks for life. As we bring our gifts together in worship and fellowship it brings wholeness to our church and allows us to become “All for One.”
Romans 12:4-8 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
His plan is that we would come together with our unique gift set and add it to the mosaic of the church so that we could be as impactful as possible.
IV. Faithful Servants Are
Ephesians 2:10b which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way.
Psalm 23:3b He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.