For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 CSB
Being once dead in our sin we are now saved by grace through faith – a gift from God for all who will believe. What comes next for the church, the body of Christ, after we have been raised to new life? We have a very specific and important calling as believers and as the body of Christ.
Created For Good Works
We are not saved by our good works, since Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for our redemption, but we are saved for good works. Each day we wake up, there are good works God has for us to do. We get the privilege of discovering them and being a part of his good works as we live out our life every day. One aspect of these good works is our faithfulness to share the good news of Jesus where we live, work and play. We should never (but we do) get so busy in our everyday lives that we forget the intentionality it takes to share Christ’s love with others. Our sharing the Gospel does not make God love us any more than he already does, does not make us "more saved," nor does it earn us any points or extra favor in his eyes. But as we live and love like he did and point others to him in all we say and do, we are living out the purpose and calling for which we were created.
The gospel is good news because without it we have no hope. We are sinners and deserve nothing but death. And we have absolutely no hope of saving ourselves. This is why urgently need to be sharing the Gospel. Hope is in short supply in this world these days. People need to hear that there is hope in a Living God. He is our only hope. This is our calling in him – the good works he has created us to do in him. We are to be salt, light, truth, hope, and all that the Gospel is to a lost and dying world. We are his hands and feet, his ambassadors, and his disciples who are called to go out from the church – our base of operation – and make disciples.
The last thing Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended to heaven was to go and make disciples. He sent the disciples out to the ends of the earth to spread His good news and lead others to Him. Those new believers could then go and make disciples. We may not be at the ends of the earth today, but right where we are we can shine the light of the Gospel into dark places so the world can see the glory of the Lord through us. In all we do and say, living and loving like Jesus, we are pointing others to him, or away from him as we go.
God has a plan for us. We were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Before we were born he knew every step we would take. He loves us, redeemed us, raised us up and has a plan and purpose for our lives in him. Pray God would reveal to you the good works he has for you to walk in today.
