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Pastor Lud Golz
Pastor Lud Golz

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  Home | Transcript Archive | August | August 07, 2020

Friday, August 07, 2020

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith.  (Ephesians 28

In our last visit we considered the need to humble ourselves before God and trust in His grace if we want to experience eternal and abundant life.  This leads naturally into a second application based on our study of Romans 11.  We should always remember it is by grace alone, and not by works. 

Paul says in verses 5-6, “At the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.  And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” 

There are three basic perspectives people have with regard to religious experience.  One says, “If you do the best you can God will accept you.”  That is works.  Others say, “God is gracious toward us, but we must do our part if we want Him to accept us.”  Another way of putting this is, “God helps those who help themselves.”  Still others say, “We are accepted by God by grace and grace alone.  There is nothing we can add to what He has done.  All we can do is accept God gift of grace by faith.” 

Paul affirms this third way of experiencing God’s acceptance.  The first two provide a basis of personal pride.  Paul wrote the Ephesian church, in Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.” 

Romans 11:7 says, “What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain.”  There is nothing we can add to what Jesus Christ did in His life, death and resurrection.  What He did is perfect.  It is finished.  It is complete.  Anything I try to add only spoils it.  It is a gift which I can only receive by faith. 

Praise God for this indescribable gift.

 

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