Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today, we'll be diving into a truth found in the book of Ephesians.

Before we read the passage, I'd like to share a quote from Charles Spurgeon, "You stand before God as if you were Christ because Christ stood before God as if He were you." This statement reminds us of the deep love and sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.

Now, let's read Ephesians 2:8-9 together:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

As we read these words, let's take a moment to reflect on the incredible grace that God has poured out on us. This grace is not something we can earn or deserve, but it is a gift freely given by our loving Father. And as we accept this gift with humility, we are assured of eternal life with Him.

Let's pray together as we begin our study of this passage.

Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the incredible gift of salvation that You have given us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to embrace this gift with humility and to recognize that our works cannot save us, but only Your grace can. Open our hearts and minds as we study Your Word today, and may our lives be transformed by Your love and grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Let's dive in!

God's Gift

God's gift of salvation is not something that we can earn or deserve, but it is freely given by our loving Father, who desires that all people should come to know Him and experience the fullness of life that He offers.

One of the most remarkable aspects of God's gift of salvation is that it is entirely unmerited. In our human understanding, we often think that we must do something to earn or deserve the good things that come our way. We may believe that if we work hard enough, behave well enough, or follow the right set of rules, then we will be rewarded with success, happiness, or even eternal life.

However, the Bible makes it clear that our efforts to earn salvation are futile, for "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). No matter how hard we try, we can never be good enough to meet God's perfect standard of holiness.

But God, in His infinite love and mercy, has provided a way for us to be saved despite our sinfulness. As Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Salvation is not something we can achieve through our own efforts, but it is a gift that God freely gives to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot take credit for our salvation or boast about our own righteousness, for it is only by God's grace that we are saved.

As the passage from Ephesians tells us, we are saved "through faith," which means that we must trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross to save us from our sins. Faith is not a work that we do, but it is a response to the truth of the gospel, a recognition that we are utterly helpless to save ourselves and that we need a Savior to rescue us from our sinful condition. As we put our faith in Jesus, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection, and our sins are forgiven, allowing us to stand before God as righteous and redeemed.

The gift of salvation also has profound implications for our lives here on earth. As we come to understand the depth of God's love for us and the extent of His sacrifice on our behalf, our hearts are transformed, and we begin to see the world through new eyes. We are no longer bound by the fear of death or the power of sin, but we are set free to live lives of love, joy, and peace as we follow Jesus and seek to do His will. The gift of salvation is not just about securing our place in heaven, but it is also about experiencing the abundant life that Jesus promised to those who believe in Him (John 10:10).

Furthermore, the gift of salvation compels us to share the good news with others. As we come to understand the incredible grace that God has shown us, we cannot help but want to tell others about the hope and forgiveness that can be found in Jesus Christ. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, representing Him to a world that desperately needs to hear the message of salvation.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:20, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."

As we recognize that our salvation is not something we have earned or deserved, we are reminded of our utter dependence on God's grace and mercy. This realization should lead us to a posture of humility and gratitude, as we acknowledge that everything we have, including our very lives, is a gift from our loving Father. In the words of the Apostle Paul, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Humility in Accepting Salvation

Humility in accepting salvation is the recognition that we are not capable of earning our salvation through our own efforts, but rather, it is a gift from God that we must receive with gratitude and humility ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO