Ephesiansنموونە

Have you ever had a “lightbulb moment?” You know, when something you’ve tried to understand or something you thought you understood, didn’t finally click until then? I’ve never had a bigger lightbulb moment than after I read this passage of scripture.

In today’s passage, Paul gives the clearest articulation of the Gospel. In verse 8, Paul says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This might be one of the most pivotal truths that you and I could ever begin to understand. Every other religious system is built on the principle that if you do enough good things, good things will happen to you in return. Even a non-religious person would say that the meaning of life is to be a good person. The truth of the Gospel, though, is so counter-religious and counter-human thinking, in the recognition that, you and I can never produce enough “good” things to earn our salvation. We are not capable of being “good” on our own. At the end of the day, our good isn’t good enough for God. The good news, though, is that because of what Jesus has done for us, God has given us the gift of salvation by grace through faith in Him! Not by good works. Not by being a good person. You and I cannot work our way into being saved because the work was finished on the cross. When Jesus said “It is finished” He forever put an end to humanity’s striving toward salvation. The message of the Gospel is that salvation is a gift, not a reward.

But the good news doesn’t stop there. In verses 9-10, Paul says “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Not only are you and I saved because of the grace of God, you and I are saved for a purpose established by God. The word “workmanship” here is the Greek word “poiema,” and it’s where we get the English word for poem. This means that you and I are viewed by God as a work of art. Our lives carry a specific message at a specific time in history for a specific audience to read. This is where the good news gets even better. The fullness of the Gospel is that we are not just saved from sin, but that we are saved for a purpose.

Prayer Points

• Thank God for the grace He has given you.
• Ask God to show you the purpose He has for your life.