Word@Work Eph18 - Ephesians 2:8-9
Published: Tue, 10/21/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
NO BOASTING
Read Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast. (NIV)
Every human success has its hero. From the Olympics to exam pass lists and political or military triumphs, the winners are feted and the losers are left in the shade. Every faith system, apart from faith in Christ, shares the same rule; the most diligent and devoted followers are honoured the most while the spiritual failures are ignored. But that is not true about those who are saved by faith in Jesus. They have no cause for any boasting.
None of Christ's saints are worthy of heaven, all are stained by sin and have missed the Divine standard. Like in the children's board game, every ladder you climb has a snake waiting to drag you down. God's perfect standard has not been achieved by anybody. That is why the Gospel is so unique. Righteousness has been given only to those who admit their failure, and entry to heaven is open only for those who know they could never earn it. That is what the Bible means by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, through His substitutionary sacrifice: all our wrong was loaded onto Him so that all His righteousness might be loaded onto us. We cannot claim any personal achievement at all. It was His initiative, and His sacrifice, even while we were unaware of our need (cf Romans 5:8).
But this benefit is not for all. It is only for those who take God's Gospel at His word: for those who believe Jesus died instead of them. To have faith is simply to receive the free gift of salvation, not to earn it in any way at all. Christians are not accepted because they are any better than others, but because they are awarded the prize that should have only gone to Jesus. He shares it with us, and as we accept His gracious salvation, all we know is that there is no way that we could have reached his presence by ourselves. Without Him, we would be totally lost. So let's forget how good we are, and, with John Newton the slave ship captain, humbly thank Him for His amazing grace.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You that you planned that Christ's death might be for my salvation. I admit that all I can offer you is sin and failure, but that You offer me forgiveness and release from the burden of guilt. I accept your offer of free pardon and a place in Your family - with no boast except that Christ has done everything to save me. In His Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
Every human success has its hero. From the Olympics to exam pass lists and political or military triumphs, the winners are feted and the losers are left in the shade. Every faith system, apart from faith in Christ, shares the same rule; the most diligent and devoted followers are honoured the most while the spiritual failures are ignored. But that is not true about those who are saved by faith in Jesus. They have no cause for any boasting.
None of Christ's saints are worthy of heaven, all are stained by sin and have missed the Divine standard. Like in the children's board game, every ladder you climb has a snake waiting to drag you down. God's perfect standard has not been achieved by anybody. That is why the Gospel is so unique. Righteousness has been given only to those who admit their failure, and entry to heaven is open only for those who know they could never earn it. That is what the Bible means by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, through His substitutionary sacrifice: all our wrong was loaded onto Him so that all His righteousness might be loaded onto us. We cannot claim any personal achievement at all. It was His initiative, and His sacrifice, even while we were unaware of our need (cf Romans 5:8).
But this benefit is not for all. It is only for those who take God's Gospel at His word: for those who believe Jesus died instead of them. To have faith is simply to receive the free gift of salvation, not to earn it in any way at all. Christians are not accepted because they are any better than others, but because they are awarded the prize that should have only gone to Jesus. He shares it with us, and as we accept His gracious salvation, all we know is that there is no way that we could have reached his presence by ourselves. Without Him, we would be totally lost. So let's forget how good we are, and, with John Newton the slave ship captain, humbly thank Him for His amazing grace.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You that you planned that Christ's death might be for my salvation. I admit that all I can offer you is sin and failure, but that You offer me forgiveness and release from the burden of guilt. I accept your offer of free pardon and a place in Your family - with no boast except that Christ has done everything to save me. In His Name. Amen.
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