Pod cast 2-11-19
Does Ephesians 2:8-9 State That Good Works Play No Part In The Life Of A Christian ?
A BELIEVERS' FAITH IS ALSO GIVEN AS A FREE GIFT
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Does this passage say that works play absolutely no part in the life of a Christian? For this to be true, then even faith cannot be worked up, it is also a gift from God. Note that verse eight shows that 'faith' is also a gift from God. The Apostle Paul tells the church that we are saved by grace thru faith and even that is a free gift from God. God is so loving and generous. It is not our faith, it is from God. Note what Paul writes to the Galatians;
Galatians 3:10-11 NKJV 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Some of the Jewish sects supported a vast catalogue of extra laws to assure no law breaking. Their approach was in error. Many, when they read of Paul's criticism of Judaism, and their law approach, want to think that Paul is critical of the Old Testament, the only part of the Bible that existed at the time. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Galatians 6:12-13 NKJV 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
No, he is not putting down God's sacred writings or laws, he is saying the ways of the religious leaders of his day are in error.
Revelation 12:9 NKJV 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Since Satan has deceived all nations it should not be that surprising Judah was also deceived. Paul fully supports all of the Bible when understood and applied properly. The Pharisees could not fully understand.
Acts 24:14-15 NKJV 14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Paul explains in the letter to the Ephesians that we cannot be saved by our law keeping.
NONE OF US CAN BOAST ABOUT OUR SPIRITUALITY AS A CAUSE FOR OUR SALVATION
Paul is countering the under handed Circumcision Party which is trying to force all gentile converts to convert to Judaism. If they converted to the Judaism of the Pharisees they would be trying to save
themselves by excessive and misguided law keeping. Therefore Paul is warning believers to forsake the self righteous concept of saving yourself. Paul tells us it cannot be done and not in the Pharisaical manner.
Ephesians 2:9 NKJV 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
God will not have anyone in his family forever who is boasting about his salvation. God requires humility among those who are saved. We all should never forget how foolish it would be to brag to God.
Galatians 3:18 NKJV 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Paul also explains that Abraham was given the promises before he was circumcised. Even Abraham, the friend of God, did not earn his salvation though obedient. See Genesis 17:1-3. Even our desire to get to know God and follow His will toward salvation is a gift from God.
Philippians 2:13 NKJV 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
God's calling gifted us to desire to want to know God. His calling made us want to do his will. We would not want to leave this societies norms on our own. The desire to seek God is a gift from God so none of us should boast. Grace means unmerited pardon from God and none can boast that we earned salvation. Christ even supplies the faith to believe that we are justified by his sacrifice.
BUT WE MUST WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
Once God calls us and motivates us to want to be better, more Godly human beings, we do need to do our part in following God's ways. Believers are not robots. God still allows for mans' free will to operate.
Romans 6:3-4 NKJV 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Jesus desires us to come up out of the watery grave of baptism as a new man. A man that wants to live in the glorious example of Christ. Needless to say we all have to resist our human nature and rely on God's Spirit to help us walk as God would want us to walk.
Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Clearly the Apostle Paul is telling the church members that they need to change their behavior.
Colossians 3:9-10 NKJV 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
This would include all violations of the sacred Ten Commandments especially. A believer would start keeping the Sabbath for instance, and honoring ones parents. All this fits with Matthew five where Christ expands the law into the deeply spiritual true meaning of righteousness.
Matthew 5:17-20 NKJV 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 20 "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
The true righteousness comes from guidance of the Holy Spirit. Properly walking the way of righteousness as defined by God's Laws just does not seem to be in the religious leaders' wheelhouse. In spite of all the extra rules, the Pharisees and Scribes were not really righteous. Their ascetic, overly legalistic approach does not deliver true righteousness.
PAUL'S LETTERS REQUIRE MATURE OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S LAWS
Many religious leaders of our day having lived their entire life believing that grace means picking and choosing which of the Laws of God to believe, misunderstand Paul. Protestants overlook verse 10, which qualifies verses 8 and 9 of Ephesians Chapter Two. It explains that good works are still fundamental requirements for true Christians.
Ephesians 2:9-10 NKJV 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Clearly anyone who says that grace means you do not have to do anything to be saved has overlooked key portions of what Paul was teaching. Further Paul is telling these gentiles that they must abandon their old ways and follow the Old Testament as is appropriate for the times.
Ephesians 2:11-13 NKJV 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Our works can never save us, otherwise we could boast that God owed us salvation. But grace and the promises of God are not excuses for not obeying God's laws.
Galatians 3:21 NKJV 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
Obviously God's Laws are good; however, mankind without the help of God, cannot go down the right path. Israel needed and we also, need the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior and spiritual help. Paul is explaining all this to help the gentile believers to resist the Circumcision apostasy. It is thereby easy for us today to misunderstand Paul because we live under different influences. Christianity was considered back then to be a sect within Judaism for many years. See Acts 11:26.
Romans 7:6 NKJV 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
Now we can serve and obey the Law in newness of spirit.
