Ephesians 2:8-13

[Shield]

Shield> Tonight we resume our examination of the letter to the Ephesians.
Shield> Last week we explored Ephesians 2:1-7
Shield> We observed the obvious contrast between having once been dead in our sins and trespasses,
Shield> whereas those who believe on the name of Jesus and trust him for their salvation by his grace are now made alive together in Christ.
Shield> in the verses that follow we shall see that this concept is explored more deeply
Shield> so lets get to it beginning with verse 8
Shield> Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
Shield> means of salvation
Shield> by grace through faith
Shield> indeed much debate has been given regarding how one is saved
Shield> so here we have verse 8
Shield> i will post it again
Shield> Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
Shield> what are some key words in this verse?
Shield> feel free to speak out
@trishha> faith
Shield> yes
Hats> We are not saved by works
Shield> ok
Shield> good
walkin-in-faith> gift
Shield> uh huh
Hats> But, by grace through faith
Shield> yes
Shield> we see a relationship here...
@gara> I believe we can not be saved by any action except the acceptance of Jesus as our savior.
Hats> Not of ourselves...but a gift from God
@Y2pray> amen
Shield> in a moment we shall see that works do play a part in the life of a believer....
Shield> yet works are not what save us
@gara> amen
Hats> Amen
Shield> quite simply...
Shield> it is a gift:)
Shield> accepted by faith
Shield> now..
Shield> Ephesians 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Shield> Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Shield> take a moment to ponder this....
Shield> and ask yourself....
Shield> first question...
Shield> what are works?
Shield> in fact please give feedback....
Shield> if you like:)
Hats> To spread the Lord's Word.
Shield> uh huh
Shield> go on...
Hats> To ask for His Will, then listen closely and then be obedient
@gara> works are the result of our salvation and not the cause of our salvation. We wish to bring others in to the kingdom
@gara> to share what God has so freely given to us.
Lil_Timothy> Do good to others, helping them when they are in need
mrniceguy> the way you choose to conduct yourself through this life
Shield> yes to all
@Y2pray> works are what we were created to do...
Shield> i like the word mrniceguy used
Shield> our conduct
Shield> how we behave
Hats> Our morals
@Y2pray> therefore nothing that would exalt ourselves
Shield> yes
@gara> amen
Shield> now...
Lil_Timothy> They glorify Jesus
Shield> can any of those things secure eternal salvation?
@Y2pray> amen
@gara> no
Hats> No
Lil_Timothy> no
Amaryllis> no
Shield> why not?
Amaryllis> but they are the evidence of our salvation
Shield> :)
Shield> hmmm
Amaryllis> because we are not under the LAW
@gara> at least not for us-but can assist others into seeing the road to salvation. We are secure because of belief
Shield> go on Amaryllis....
Hats> Salvation is our belief in Jesus, the Son of God
Shield> excellent points...
Amaryllis> works are our response to salvation?
@gara> amen amaryllis
Hats> Amen Amaryllis
Shield> they are acts of obedience
Shield> so yes
@Y2pray> amen
Shield> a response to salvation
Lil_Timothy> Jesus is the only way to God
Shield> amen Lil_Timothy
Hats> I gave one
Shield> lets post those verses again...
Shield> Ephesians 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Hats> Amen
Shield> Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Shield> here is what i see
Shield> in advance....
Hats> Yes
Shield> God had a plan
Hats> I was going to ask a question about that.
Shield> it includes me
Shield> it includes you
Shield> each one of you
@Y2pray> yes
Shield> His plan was not happenstance
Shield> it wasnt thrown together on a whim
@gara> no it certainly is not.
Shield> YOU have a purpose
Hats> God knows in advance what each of us will do as far as works for Him, correct Shield?
Amaryllis> Then what if you are a Christian, but show few works?
Lil_Timothy> If we love Jesus then we will do what pleases Him
Shield> Hats => given that God has perfect knowledge of events past present and future...
Shield> Hats => yes i would agree
Amaryllis> Does that mean that you are lacking the evidence and therefore not saved?
Hats> Yes, of course He knows..
Hats> No, Amaryllis..
Amaryllis> Why not hats?
@gara> you can not measure works on this earth amaryllis - I don't believe We are each placed where God wants us to be and give the opportunity to help where we are need most
Shield> Amaryllis => fortunately God is the judge of that
Shield> not me
Shield> or anyone else here
Amaryllis> true
Shield> God knows the heart
@Y2pray> yes...amen
Amaryllis> which is what He judges by
Hats> If you're saved Amaryllis...even if you don't produce but few works does not mean you are not saved.
Amaryllis> in this day
Shield> yet he does indeed judge our works
Amaryllis> it might now, but yet it could?
Shield> but that is a subject for another time....
Amaryllis> k
Hats> Yes, I agree Shield
Shield> my aim here is to get a sense that we are saved by grace....
Shield> and that we do have a purpose....
Hats> Amen
Shield> at the time i indicate you may speak about matter that relate to the study
Shield> lets move on tho....
Shield> Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncir***cised" by those who call themselves "the cir***cision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)--
Shield> now....
Shield> this is a hard verse
Shield> basically it is referring to a custom in biblical times...
Hats> Yes
Shield> that identified the Hebrews as being obedient to the biblical law in the OT
Shield> because of time limitations and the nature of this tradition i will forgo a lengthy explanation
Shield> suffice it to say that the Hebrew people looked askance at the gentiles because they themselves were not cir***cised
Shield> now....
Shield> lets see what Paul does...
Shield> Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Shield> separate
Shield> excluded
Shield> foreigners
Shield> without God
Shield> without Hope
Shield> that is the condition the Gentiles had once experienced
Hats> :(
Shield> in fact....
Shield> that is the condition of those who are not believers in the Lord Jesus
@gara> amen
Shield> right now
Shield> as we speak
Hats> Amen
Shield> Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Hats> Amen
Shield> my friends
Shield> in Christ
@gara> Thank you Jesus
Lil_Timothy> :)
Hats> Thank you, my Lord Jesus Christ
Shield> in Christ
Shield> in Christ
@Jodee> ONLY in Christ
@gara> Flood away! You can't say In Christ enough
Hats> We want you to finish, Shield
Lil_Timothy> Christ is IT!
Hats> Amen
Shield> now...
Shield> that contrast we spoke of...
Shield> what we onnce were
Shield> and what God is now making of us...
Shield> begins to see a close in the divide
Shield> with this verse...
Shield> and those that follow
Shield> next week we will explore this more deeply
Hats> Okay, Shield
Shield> Our Father we come to you
gara> amen-the hardest words for me to learn to say were and are Not my will but Thine my Lord.
Shield> we worship you Lord....
Shield> and we lift you up
Shield> may the words of our mouths...
Shield> and the meditation of our hearts
Shield> be acceptable in your sight oh Lord
Shield> amen:)
Jodee> amen
Hats> Amen
gara> amen
walkin-in-faith>Amen!
Shield> God Bless you all and thanks for coming:)
Lil_Timothy> Amen
Y2pray> amen