Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• How many people have learned these verse (v8-9) of by heart?
• Why these two verses?
• These verse are foundational to the Christian faith
• How is a person saved?
• How does a person come to know the Lord?
• How is a person saved from death and hell?
• Salvation has nothing to do with works
• Salvation has nothing to do with us
• It is all of the grace and favour of God
• Watchwords of the Reformation
• We are His Workmanship
• God is the Master at work in us
• How are we saved?
• Why are we saved?
• What are we saved for?

How are we saved? (v8-9)

Grace

• The Ephesians were saved by the almighty power of God
• By the grace of God
• Example and story of John Newton
• "Amazing Grace, that saved a wretch like me"
• Grace is overwhelming love towards rebellious sinners
• Grace is very costly
• Jesus had to die
• Jesus had to give up the unbroken fellowship in heaven
• Jesus became a man and was despised and rejected
• Grace is much more than mercy
• Mercy - not getting what you deserve
• Grace - getting what you don't deserve
• Example of Billy Graham
• Mercy - being spared, not paying the penalty
• Grace - being taken out for a meal
• Example of Prodigal Son
• Mercy - being treated like a hired servant
• Grace - being treated like my son
• Have you experienced God's grace?
• You need to know God's grace for yourself
• We need the convicting work of the Holy Spirit

Faith

• We are saved through grace and by faith
• Example of man drowning in the river
• Faith comes from God - it is not just something we create ourselves
• Phil 1:29
• Heb 12:2
• There has been debate about this verse
• Salvation is not of ourselves but of the Lord
• It would be very wrong to take glory for ourselves and say the determining factor in our salvation is us!
• Hymn 498
• Our Testimony must be that God has saved us
• It is the love and action of God
• We are not robots but we are born from above (from God) - John 1:13

Why are we saved? (v8-9)

• We are saved for God's pleasure
• Rom 3:20, 28; 4:1-4
• We are not saved by works but by faith
• That the glory might go to God
• Example of Phil
• It is human nature to think we are good and merit something before God
• Grace had found him
• When we pray we thank God for saving us
• Eph 4:24 - When we are saved we become God's workmanship
• We give all the glory to God
• We are saved for His glory and His praise

What are we saved for? (v10)

• Consider Paul
• When you are saved you are not meant to be passive but doing the works of God
• Titus 2:11-14
• In order that we wouldn't practice the things we did before but be zealous for good works
• Consider Jesus who was zealous for good works
• Titus 3:1,8
• To be ready for every good work
• Maintain good works
• We are not to be pure activists who try to earn our salvation
• We are not driven people but we do it in the love of God
• May we work together to do God's will
• We have the grace and faith that we might please God
• Saved to bring God glory

Closing Remarks

• v8-9 shut all the doors
• All the doors are open
• Where sin abounds, the grace of God abounds all the more
• God has prepared works for us to do
• Great Riches At Christ's Expense (Grace)