Saved by Grace Through Faith

From Grace to Life

Throughout this series, we have discovered that God calls His people.

We have seen that Jesus Christ possesses all authority.

We have learned that a true disciple follows Christ.

We have heard Jesus declare that we must be born again.

Today we come to the question that every human being must answer:

How is a sinner made right with a holy God?

The Apostle Paul gives us the answer with remarkable clarity.

It is not by human effort.

It is not by religious achievement.

It is not by our own righteousness.

It is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the very heart of the Gospel.

What Does the Text Say?

Paul begins with a shocking statement.

“You were dead in your transgressions and sins.”

Notice that he does not say we were sick.

He does not say we were weak.

He says we were dead.

A dead person cannot make himself alive.

A dead person cannot rescue himself.

Spiritually, this is the condition of every human being apart from Christ.

We are separated from God because of sin.

Our greatest need is not self-improvement.

Our greatest need is resurrection.

Then everything changes with two beautiful words:

“But God…”

Those two words contain the hope of the Gospel.

We could not reach God.

So God came to us.

We could not save ourselves.

So God acted in His mercy.

Because of His great love, He made us alive together with Christ.

What Does This Text Reveal About God?

This passage reveals the character of our Heavenly Father.

God is rich in mercy.

He is abundant in love.

He delights in showing grace.

Notice that Paul does not say God loved us because we deserved it.

He loved us while we were still sinners.

Our salvation begins with God’s initiative.

Before we loved Him…

He loved us.

Before we sought Him…

He sought us.

Before we called upon Him…

He had already planned our redemption through Jesus Christ.

This is the heart of the Gospel.

Salvation begins not with man’s goodness, but with God’s mercy.

What Does This Text Reveal About Mankind?

Paul is honest about our condition.

Sin is not merely something we do.

It is a condition that affects every part of our lives.

Our thoughts.

Our desires.

Our words.

Our actions.

Left to ourselves, we cannot remove our guilt before God.

No amount of charity can erase sin.

No amount of religious ceremony can wash away our guilt.

No amount of personal discipline can make us righteous before a holy God.

This is difficult for human pride to accept.

We naturally want to contribute something.

We want to earn God’s favour.

Yet Paul leaves no room for boasting.

Salvation is God’s gracious work from beginning to end, received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Grace Is God’s Gift

Paul writes:

“It is by grace you have been saved.”

Grace means receiving what we do not deserve.

We deserved judgement.

God offers forgiveness.

We deserved death.

We deserved separation.

God offers reconciliation.

God offers eternal life.

This is why the Gospel is called Good News.

If salvation depended on our performance, none of us would have hope.

But because salvation depends upon God’s grace, every sinner who comes to Christ in faith may receive mercy.

What an amazing God we serve.

Faith Is the Open Hand

Paul continues:

“Through faith.”

Faith is not a good work that earns salvation.

Faith is the empty hand that receives God’s gift.

Imagine a beggar receiving bread.

The beggar does not earn the bread by extending his hand.

He simply receives what another has graciously given.

So it is with salvation.

Christ has accomplished everything necessary through His death and resurrection.

We receive His finished work through faith.

Our confidence rests not in ourselves but in Him.

Good Works Have Their Proper Place

Some people misunderstand Paul’s teaching.

If salvation is by grace alone, do good works matter?

Absolutely.

Paul answers this immediately.

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

Notice the order.

Good works are not the root of salvation.

They are the fruit of salvation.

We do not obey Christ in order to become His children.

We obey because, through faith, we have become His children.

The transformed life is evidence of God’s grace at work within us.

The Cross Stands at the Centre

Everything Paul teaches points us to Jesus Christ.

The cross is where justice and mercy meet.

At the cross, God’s justice and mercy meet as Christ bears our sin and gives Himself for our redemption.

God’s mercy was displayed because sinners were offered forgiveness.

At the empty tomb, death was defeated.

Through Christ’s resurrection, new life became available to all who believe.

There is no greater message.

There is no greater hope.

There is no greater Saviour.

The Invitation

If you have never trusted Christ, today His invitation is open.

Come just as you are.

You do not need to make yourself worthy.

You cannot make yourself worthy.

Christ has done everything necessary for your salvation.

Repent.

Believe the Gospel.

Place your trust in Jesus Christ.

Receive the grace that only He can give.

The Good Shepherd is ready to receive all who come to Him.

Return to the Shepherd

The Christian life does not begin with our effort.

It begins with God’s grace.

It continues by God’s grace.

And one day it will end in God’s glorious presence because of His grace.

May we never boast in ourselves.

May we boast only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For by grace we have been saved through faith.

To God alone be the glory.

Amen.