Created For Good Works Ephesians 2:8-10
Boudreaux and Fontenot were at the family reunion. Boudreaux asked Fontenot, “When is the last time you asked yourself, ‘Why am I here?’” Fontenot said, “What you talking about?” Boudreaux said, “You got to figure dis out. It’s a philosophical, theological question you got to answer. Why are you here?” Fontenot said, “Oh Cher, I know the answer to dat. I’m here for the gumbo.”
If I asked you why you are here, why were you created, what would you say? What is the purpose of your life?………
One of the Biblical answers to that question is that we were created to GLORIFY GOD. That is true. But we are going to look at a second answer to that question. We were created for GOOD WORKS.
EPHESIANS 2:8-10
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
I believe that the Apostle Paul put these verses together so we could have a clear understanding of the connection between good works and faith, good works and salvation.
I. We Must Be Saved To Do Good Works For God
We must be, as the passage says, IN CHRIST to do the good works of God
Can we do good deeds without being a Christian? Sure. But those good deeds do not have the IMPACT on people’s lives that the good works of God have.
Becoming a Christian means that you realize your need for a Savior because of the sin in your life. You make a conscious decision to ask God to forgive you. You accept Jesus as the Lord of your life. DO THAT TODAY and let God use you to do good works for Him.
II. WE Are Not Saved By Good Works
Look at those verses again. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Some people think that they can WORK THEIR WAY to Heaven. Paul says that we are saved by the GRACE of God through trusting in Jesus.
Matthew 7:22-23 presents a sobering thought. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you.’”
We are not saved BY good works. Please accept Christ as your Savior and Lord so you can do Good Works for Him.
III. We Are Saved To Do Good Works
If we are made to do good works, it means we are MADE TO BE A BLESSING to others.
Every time you serve someone, you are fulfilling God’s plan in your life. Jesus himself said we are to serve others “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matt 20:28)
Tonya and I took our grandchildren to Branson this summer.. We saw the Sights and Sounds play JESUS Almost all of the scenes were of Jesus helping people. Healing people, feeding people….
God expects us to be doers of the Word. This is clear in the parable of the Samaritan man. The person, who pleases God, is not the one who just knows what is right – like the priest and the Levite, but the one who does what is right – the Samaritan man.
It is comfortable to just KNOW and not DO, because doing requires sacrifice…. But the Bible says, “Faith without WORKS is useless.”
Whenever you see a need right in front of you, God is giving you the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, to do what you were created to do.
Terry Freeman is a friend of mine who lives in Mena, Arkansas. He is an EMT…. Last week he was on the interstate and was caught in a terrible storm. At some point he saw a woman walking in the middle of the road. She had hydroplaned and hit the median barrier. She was in shock. Terry stopped. God her out of the road. And called 911. While he was waiting he helped with some minor cuts she had. The lady asked, “Why did you stop?” He said, “God told me you needed help.” And he provided a Christian witness to the woman.
If you see someone who has a need, at school, in your office or here in this church, GUESS WHAT? Chances are, you were created to help them in Jesus’ name.
There are NO UNIMPORTANT ACTS OF SERVICE
The Bible tells us that something as small as a CUP of COLD WATER given in Jesus’ name can change someone’s life forever.
Several years ago two teenage boys tried to come into a church service at night, but it was packed and they couldn’t find any seats. So they turned around and decided to leave. But one of the ushers saw them and called them back, “Here, let me help you find a seat”. And that usher personally escorted them, down to the front where there were two seats left.
That night both of those boys accepted Christ and became Christians. One of them was BILLY GRAHAM.
There are NO UNIMPORTANT ACTS OF SERVICE
That’s why 1 Cor 15:58 says, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
The story about Billy Graham brings us to our last point.
IV. Our Good Deeds Can Lead People To Christ
Let me explain how. When we start meeting people’s needs, we gain their attention because, today, selfless service is very rare.
Once we have their attention, a door opens for us to share the Gospel.
We meet needs because that’s what God has commanded us to do. NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE.
But as we meet those needs we share the good news of a Savior who loves you, lived for you, died for you, and rose again.
It’s like SHOW and TELL. Do you remember when you were a child in school, the teacher had those SHOW AND TELL days…
Our work is not just SHOW AND SHOW. It’s not JUST TELL AND TELL. That’s not how Jesus ministered to people. It’s SHOW AND TELL.
Our good deeds can lead people to Christ.
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
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YOU WERE CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS
Accept Christ as you Savior today so God can use you.
Make a new commitment as a Christian to allow God to use you.
Join this church and allow God to use you.
If you do, we will watch God do something incredible with your life.
