Ephesians 2.1-10 (6)
Pray Psalm 34.1-3.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
Sing Psalm 34.1-3.
(Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
I will bless the LORD at all times; I shall praise Him evermore!
My soul makes its boast in Jesus—Him we gladly all adore!
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus! Let us lift His Name in praise!
Read Ephesians 2.1-10; meditate on verses 8-10.
Meditate on the words “grace”, “saved”, “workmanship”, and “works.”
Preparation
1. How are we saved?
2. For what are we saved?
Meditation
Lots of familiar terms here: grace, saved, faith, gift, good works. Each of these is important in our salvation, so we need to make sure we know what they mean and how they relate to one another and to us.
“Grace” refers to God’s disposition to wretched sinners such as you and I. He looks with favor and love upon us. Then He communicates that disposition in His Word and, by His Spirit, empowers us to know and receive it. Grace thus delivers the “gift” of salvation, which we receive, empowered by the Spirit, by “faith”. At that point, God begins to work in us, willing and doing of His good pleasure as we work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2.12, 13). We are “saved” from the guilt and consequences of sin and we become God’s “workmanship”—literally, His poem—so that we take our place in the show of grace He’s putting on for the world.
He does this by “good works”, that is, the daily acts of kindness and words of encouragement and truth by which we parade God’s grace before others and fly the banner of His love. We’re not saved by good works, but unto them. Put another way, we’re not saved by good works but not without them. If one is saved, one will do good works because, by the grace of God, this is what we will want to do. If we don’t desire to do good works, or if we are merely indifferent to them, we probably aren’t saved.
So here’s the order of operations: Grace leads to faith, which introduces salvation and begins God’s workmanship, yielding good works according to what He has “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” That would be the Law of God, of course.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.“Familiarity breeds contempt”, so said someone (either Aesop, 620-564 BCE or Richard Taverner in 1539).
Regardless, it’s a sweet call to those who know the Scriptures well but have perhaps missed, through familiarity, the magnitude of what is written.
Let’s ease through Ephesians 2.8-10 so that the familiar surprises once again, as relevant, true, and seen:
“For by grace you have been saved.”
Why? Because God wanted to save us.
But how did grace save us?
“through faith.” Was that something I had and did?
No. “It was not of ourselves.”
But what was it then?
“It was a gift.”
From Whom?
“From God.”
Are you sure I didn’t have something to do with it?
No. It was “not of works.”
Well, why not?
“Lest anyone should boast.” OK, got it.
But then what does that make us?
“We are His workmanship.”
How?
“Created in Christ Jesus.” Oh my.
For what purpose?
“For good works.”
Did I think those up?
No, again.
“God prepared” them.
When did He do that?
“Beforehand.”
Before what? Before time. Before creation. Before we were born; and born again.
Amazing. But why?
“That we should walk in them.”
To be His “show of grace” to those in our Personal Mission Field.
And what is the chief end of all that?
To glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Catechism answer).
“For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands” (Ps. 92.4).
“So teach us to number our days, that
we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90.12).
“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon,
those who are planted in the house of the LORD
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
they shall be fresh and flourishing,
to declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Ps. 92.12-15).
And “God our Savior…desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of [this] truth” (1 Tim. 2.3, 4).
Reflection
1. How would you explain the relationship between grace and works in your own experience?
2. Our salvation is inextricably tied to good works. Explain.
3. What would you say to a fellow believer who didn’t think good works were all that important?
Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a life of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace. Sinners roll themselves in the dust; sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, are raised above this world, by Christ’s grace. The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 2.1-10
Pray Psalm 34.4-9.
Seek the Lord earnestly in prayer. Draw near to Him, look into His radiant face, praise Him abundantly. Then call on Him to rescue you from all your troubles and to equip you for the good works you will do today.
Sing 34.4-9.
(Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
When I sought the LORD, He answered and from fear delivered me.
Those who look to Him are radiant; shamed their face shall never be.
Refrain v. 3
Magnify the Name of Jesus! Let us lift His Name in praise!
When I cried to God, He heard me, and from trouble rescued me.
’Round their camp His angel lingers that they may delivered be.
Refrain
Taste and see how good is Jesus; blessed are all who in Him hide.
None shall lack for any blessing who in Christ will e’er confide.
Refrain
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we finish our discussion of commerce and begin looking at “grace economics”. Our Read Moore podcast begins a new series of readings on Monday, from our book What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? In our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert, the saint presses on in his journey and adventure to find The Promised Land of the Saints. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
