Go! And Be Saved by Grace Through Faith - Ephesians 2:8–9
Opening Prayer
Lord God, we thank You for the amazing gift of salvation. We thank You that we are saved not by what we do, but by what Jesus has already done. As we open Your Word today, help us to grasp more deeply the wonder of Your grace, the call to faith, and the joy of living in Christ. Let this message speak to every heart—drawing the lost to salvation and encouraging the saved to live for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Introduction: The Greatest Rescue Story
There’s a story told of a boy who fell into a deep, muddy pit. The townspeople gathered around. One said, “Climb out!”—but the boy couldn’t. Another threw in a rope—but it was too short. A third said, “You’re dirty, stay there.” But finally, a man climbed down into the pit, lifted the boy onto his shoulders, and climbed out with him.
That is a picture of grace. That is the story of salvation. We couldn’t save ourselves. But Jesus came down, lifted us up, and brought us out.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT): "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
Point 1: We Are Saved by Grace Alone
The Apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Ephesus, is reminding them that salvation is entirely the work of God. The context of Ephesians 2 highlights our desperate condition before Christ—dead in sin (v.1), influenced by the world and Satan (v.2), and deserving of God’s anger (v.3).
But then verse 4 says, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much…” Grace interrupts our story of destruction with hope.
Grace – Greek: ????? (charis) – unmerited favour; kindness shown to someone who doesn’t deserve it and cannot repay it.
We are not saved because we earned it or deserved it. We are saved because God is gracious.
Titus 3:5 (NLT): “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
R.T. Kendall once wrote: "Grace is not a license to sin; it is the power not to."
I love that! Grace doesn’t excuse sin—it rescues us from it. Grace is not cheap. It cost Jesus everything.
The Gift You Can’t Earn:
Imagine someone gives you a brand-new car, fully paid, with your name on the logbook. You reach into your wallet to offer them a fiver as thanks. Insulting, right? That’s what it’s like when we try to “add” to what God has already done through Christ.
Point 2: We Receive Grace Through Faith
Ephesians 2:8 – “...when you believed.”
Grace is God’s part. Faith is our response.
We are saved by grace, but it comes through faith—a trusting, resting confidence in Jesus Christ.
Faith – Greek: p?st?? (pistis) – belief, trust, confidence; not just intellectual agreement, but a personal commitment.
Romans 10:9–10 (NLT): “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Faith is not just a one-time event. It is a posture of the heart that trusts Jesus completely.
Charles Stanley once said: "Faith is trusting God even when you don’t understand His plan."
And that’s the essence of saving faith—when life is uncertain, Jesus is certain. When we can’t see the way, we know He is the Way.
Point 3: Salvation Is Not by Works—So Stop Trying to Earn It
Ephesians 2:9 – “Salvation is not a reward... so none can boast.”
We cannot climb a spiritual ladder to heaven. Religion says “Do.” Jesus says “Done.” Salvation is not 99% grace and 1% effort. It is 100% a gift.
Galatians 2:21 (NLT): “I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”
If we could earn our way to heaven, the cross would be pointless.
John Piper said: "Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon."
Amen! It’s not just that grace gets us into the Kingdom—it empowers us to live as Kingdom people.
Point 4: Grace Transforms Our Lives
Let’s not stop at the gate of salvation. Grace continues to shape and sanctify us.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT): “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. Grace transforms how we live.
Philippians 2:13 (NLT): “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Max Lucado wrote: "God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus."
That’s the beauty of grace. It finds you broken but doesn’t leave you there. It makes you new.
Gospel Presentation: Jesus Paid It All
Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t live.
He died the death we deserved.
He was buried and rose again to offer eternal life.
On the cross, Jesus cried out: “It is finished!”—the Greek word tet??esta? (tetelestai)—paid in full.
We don’t add to that. We simply believe and receive.
Illustration: The Burning Building
A man is trapped on the top floor of a burning building. Firefighters arrive, stretch a net below, and shout, “Jump! We’ll catch you!”
That’s grace: the net.
Faith: the jump.
Will you trust Jesus to save you?
Call to Action:
Believer: Are you trying to earn what Christ already paid for? Rest in grace. Walk in faith. Let the fruit of salvation shine through your life.
Seeker: Are you still in the burning building? The net is ready. Jesus is calling. Don’t wait. Don’t delay.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you’ve never truly trusted Jesus, now is the time.
Lord Jesus, I confess I’m a sinner. I believe You died for me. I trust You now as my Saviour. Come into my life. Forgive me. Change me. I put my faith in You alone. Amen.
If you prayed that sincerely, welcome to the family of God. Tell someone. Get into the Word. Get into a church. Grow.
Benediction:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be more than just a truth you know—may it be the reality you live.
Walk by faith. Live with joy. And never forget: you are saved, not because of who you are, but because of who He is.
Go in grace. Go in peace. Go and live by faith.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
