Walk the Walk | Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:17-5:2
Sermon Summary:
Ephesians 2:8-9 is a critically-important passage for us to know that we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ. We have no credit when it comes to our salvation–all the glory goes to God! And we Christians love and cherish these verses…but sometimes we stop reading before we get to 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We can certainly do the good works God has prepared for us without mistakenly thinking we are saved by our good works! The rest of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is full of instructions, encouragements, and even commands to walk according to the Spirit’s leading and do good works. So why do we tend to downplay or even shun good works? What place is there in the life of a Christian for specific teaching toward holy living? We will find the balance in Ephesians between resting in the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and boldly doing the good works God has prepared for us to do.
God did not create and save you for you to stand still and be useless. He created you and saved you to do good works, that you should walk in them.
Why do Christians have such a weird relationship with Ephesians 2:10?
Luke 6:46: Jesus says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
When we receive commands to holy living, we can respond in different ways:
“I’m a poor, miserable sinner.”
“I’m a masterpiece of God’s grace. I’m gonna go walk in these good works!”
A good summary of Paul’s teaching in the rest of Ephesians: Don’t just talk the talk…walk the walk!
In Christ, I am ready because I’ve been made ready (through faith).
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