So, more recently, God has been teaching me a lot about his people and the lives they are supposed to lead! What I am learning is that salvation is not just about walking down an isle, saying a prayer, or responding to a liver quiver. Salvation is so much more; Salvation is life changing! The GRACE of GOD is LIFE CHANGING! I have started to really think about this issue, ask my parents and those I respect about it, to dig into scripture to find an answer, and just pray pray pray about it! It’s funny because my answer did not come easy. If I was to (and do) believe that salvation is not just walking down an isle or saying a prayer, then that changed everything I have believed. Don’t get me wrong, salvation is by grace through faith alone, but if we truly make a commitment for Christ and make him Lord of our lives, our lives will beg to be changed. My pastor spoke on this Sunday morning and it rocked my world…. Here are some of the passages he shared on the direct connection between grace and good works…

Matthew 5:16- “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 9:8- “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

 Phil 2- we were created for good works

Col 1:9-10- “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

1 Timothy 5:10- the widow has a “reputation for good works” and is “devoted to every good work.”

Titus 1:16- “[The Cretans] profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.”

Titus 2:14- “[Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Hebrews 10

Romans 6; 11:30-32

Gal 3

And finally the most radical verse in this list, in my opinion! The verse that totally and complete just opened my eyes….
Ephesians 2:8-9- “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Now when you read that by itself, out of context, it is indefinitely saying that it is not by works and grace is totally and completely independent of good works, which it is, but there is another aspect to it. This is were the rest of the passage comes in…

Ephesians 2:10-“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Let’s read that all together…

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Yes, these two passages of scripture are found directly next to each other, intended to be together, and written by the same author! This blew my mind! It’s amazing how Christians have a watered-down gospel because they do not read verses in context! I pray we all learn to truly study the scriptures, but also study them accurately!

Here are some questions my Pastor asked to challenge us, and in turn, I am asking you…

1) Is there a clear line between your past and now?

• The reality of grace invades the lives of the believer. It dominates the biblical believer.

2) Am I depending on anything else to save me?

• All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All are in need of grace!

3) How balanced are you? How Biblically shaped are you?

• Are you letting the word of God shape you? Or something or someone else?

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I’m not saying this is the end all of what I will learn in this subject, because I know I will never know it all, but this is just what I believe God is pressing on my heart through the Scriptures. I feel like the (Christian) world has totally and completely missed the point on grace and good works. Please, if you feel like I’m wrong on any of this or even right on this, please share your input with me! I would love to learn! I know I am human and full of error so give me any input, PLEASE!!!