The Grands Letter (Eph/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on July 18, 2022 6:27 am (CST)Dear Grands,
Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Did you ever misread something? If you left off reading after verse eight above, you might be led to believe that the LORD has already saved you. Yet, the writer, Paul, goes on to say that salvation is not earned by or for anyone; it is a gift from God. What’s more, salvation is entirely the work of Jesus Christ. Is that everything the verses say? Not quite. Read it fully once again. First, note that it says “our Lord Jesus Christ.” That means that Jesus Christ must first be your Savior, then your LORD.
Verse nine adds that it is all of Him. It’s the gift He gives to those who trust Him; and He gives it so that no one might boast and claim that it was the result of something they themselves did. No true artist fails to initial his work, so that everyone who beholds the work will know who the creator was. It is much the same of God, only more so.
What’s equally important is that once we are spiritually re-created, the glory of the creation accrues to the LORD alone. And the “touch-ups” that an artist does to his work is like the LORD’s day-by-day work in our lives: that we might be to the praise of His glory alone!
“But, how does all of this work in my life?” you say. It works when you trust the LORD Jesus both as your Savior and LORD. How does that work? Honestly confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to forgive you. Then, trust that He has. How will you know? He will reveal Himself to you. You will know! And when you do, thank Him for His forgiveness. Your new life has just begun!
Heartily in Christ Jesus,
(Dado III)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America
“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom
