Grace That Works

In Ephesians 2:8-10 we see that the whole of our salvation is a result of God’s work for us, God’s work in us and God’s work through us. As Tyler Briggs emphasizes throughout today’s message, the only place left for Christian boasting is to boast in Jesus Christ for all He has done.

Tyler’s Main Points

  • God’s work for us did what we could never do for ourselves.
  • God’s work in us makes us a new creation.
  • God’s work in us is to produce good works through us that glorify Him.

Key Takeaways

  • As defined by Tyler, “Grace is the giving of undeserved love and compassion that originates from the heart.”

  • By grace through faith in Christ, God has extended not just forgiveness, but His embrace.

  • Faith = knowledge + agreement + commitment.

  • We can trust in the credentials of Jesus Christ– the eternal Son of God, who created the universe, was born of the virgin Mary, who fulfilled the Law and Prophets, died as our perfect substitute, resurrected, and ascended to heaven.

  • When God saves us, in one sense we are the same person and in another sense, we are new creations. By grace, God creates new senses, new affections, and new desires in us.

  • God makes beautiful pictures of broken people.

  • Not only was the work of creation by God’s mighty and marvelous hand, but His work of new creation also displays His unrivaled power and glory.

  • “You have seen a painter with his palette on his finger and he has ugly little daubs of paint on the palette. What can he do with those spots? Go in and see the picture. What splendid painting! In an even wiser way does Jesus act toward us. He takes us, poor smudges of paint, and He makes the blessed pictures of His grace out of us. It is neither the brush nor the paint He uses, but it is the skill of His own hand which does it all.” – Charles Spurgeon

  • According to Tyler, “Good works are divinely prescribed actions that benefit in such a way that God is glorified.”

  • Dead people cannot do good works. They do good to get other people to think more highly of them and dead people deny God, so they do not glorify Him.

  • No matter where you are, God is painting a picture. We have the ability to choose to follow God on the path He prepared and purchased for you– all by His grace and all for His glory.

  • Tyler’s application – believe, boast (in God), and walk with Him!

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal reflection:

  • Who have you believed in this week? Who have you boasted in this week? Who have you walked with this week?

  • What are Christ’s credentials that make him worthy of your complete commitment?

Discuss with your community group:

  • As a new creation in Christ, do you see yourself as God’s masterpiece? How should this new identity impact your day-to-day perspective and actions?

  • In what settings and situations are you most prone to boast in yourself rather than boast in Christ?

Passages Referenced for Further Study

Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:12; Philippians 1:6.