Ephesians 2:8 – 10…

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

Last week we looked at the first 9 words of Ephesians 2:8 – 10 and we learned to look to Christ because he is the face of grace and the author of faith and the means of our salvation. This is the good news of the gospel for the gift of salvation is given to us by God’s free grace and is received through the pipeline of faith.

 

This week we learned that the gift of salvation results in humility and humility is a result of resting in the truth that God’s doing + God’s working + God’s results = God’s glory.

 

#1: We learned that we are doers…

When Paul says that our salvation is not a result of your own doing we get a little uncomfortable because we cannot do something in regards to our salvation and right standing and acceptance before God. When the Lord removes our pride and gives us humility he reminds us that we are human beings not human doings. This is why the core truth of this text is so important for us to remember because the gift of salvation results in humility and humility is a result of resting in the truth that God’s doing + God’s working + God’s results = God’s glory.

 

#2: We learned that we are workers…

When Paul says that our salvation is a gift of God, not a result of works, we don’t know what to do because our ability to go do some hard work to crank out some awesome results gets cut off at the knees and we feel a little fearful because we’re so used to working hard at doing a bunch of things that produce the results we long for. But when it comes to salvation it’s a gift to be received not worked for. Therefore instead of doing things or working hard we need to learn to trust someone else to do the things that need to get done. We need to trust someone else to do the hard work for us in terms of our salvation. This is why the core truth of this text is so important to remember because the gift of salvation results in humility and humility is a result of resting in the truth that God’s doing + God’s working + God’s results = God’s glory.

 

#3: We learned that we love bragging rights…

Paul says that our salvation is not a result of works, so that no one may boast. How’s that for a shot to the ego! How’s that for a bragging buzz-kill? We don’t get any bragging rights. But we love bragging rights! We love to brag about our plans and our accomplishments which is why we need to hear the central truth of this text that the gift of salvation results in humility and humility is a result of resting in the truth that God’s doing + God’s working + God’s results = God’s glory.

 

#4: We learned that bragging can be redeemed…

When Paul says that the gift of salvation is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that we no longer have any bragging rights it’s like the best news to an overworked soul after a long day at work looking forward to the hope of a warm shower and a comfortable easy chair. Bragging gets redeemed because Jesus went to the cross for us so that we who are weary and heavy and broken and tired can find eternal rest in the truth that the gift of salvation results in humility and humility is a result of resting in the truth that God’s doing + God’s working + God’s results = God’s glory.

 

#5: We learned that now we can brag on God…

In terms of our right standing and acceptance before God there’s no more doing, there’s no more working, there’s no more performing, there’s no more results oriented goal setting and there’s no more strategizing or hiding or pretending or faking our way to the top. There’s only resting in the easy armchair of God’s gift of salvation as we rest in the truth that the gift of salvation results in humility and humility is a result of resting in the truth that God’s doing + God’s working + God’s results = God’s glory. That’s something to brag about!

 

Interact with the questions below and have someone pray for you.

No fixing. Only sharing and praying.

 

What’s the most encouraging truth from this study?

What’s the most challenging truth?

Why?