You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ephesians 2:1-10, NRSV)
How do we secure our eternal salvation?
Can we be sure?
100% beyond a shadow of a doubt sure of our salvation?
We can because of the promise made to us, but we can’t because of anything we do.
You see we all deserve death and separation from God, yet because God is rich in mercy, He sent His Son to die for us and make a way. Because Jesus was faithful to the promise and followed through on what God asked Him to do, we are made right with God. Because of grace!
You see the author of Ephesians tells them, and us, that we are saved by grace through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not the result of works, so that no one may boast. We can do nothing to make it it is a gift.
So does that mean we do nothing?
Lutherans are real good at quoting verses 8-9 above, but we can not stop there…
“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” You see God created you to do good things! That is why He gave you life, so live it giving and doing for others!
aSacredRebel 