Ephesians 2:4-5 & 10 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Many people wrongfully
believe that we get to heaven by our good works. Someone told the story of a
man who tried to gain access to heaven on his good deeds. Heaven's Gatekeeper
said to him that there was a point system to get in on your works, and you
would need one hundred points. He said, "I attended church faithfully for
over 60 years, always supported my church with my tithes and offerings, and was
a member of the same church my whole life." The keeper of Heaven's Gate
told him that this would give him a total of 1 point.
The man was bewildered and said, then this next one will bring me the points needed. He went on to tell him, "I was married to the same woman for 62 years and never once cheated on her, not even in my mind." The reply came that this counts as another 1 point, only 98 to go!
By this time, the man had become somewhat concerned and said that this last good works of his life should do it. The man confidently told the Gatekeeper. "I started a homeless shelter along with a cafeteria and supported it with my own money for 41 years," The Gatekeeper said to him that this one was worth a point and a half, with only 96 and a half points left. With this, the man shouted out with a loud voice, "with that system, the only way I'll get in is by the Grace of God!! To this, we say, AMEN and AMEN!!
So, what about good works; where do they fit in the life of a Christian? The apostle Paul teaches us from our text today that "we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works." In other words, doing good works is not a conduit that carries us to an Eternal Life with Christ Jesus; it is a fruit of the spirit.
God will count all the good we do for naught if we do not surrender to Jesus with a true heart salvation. When we are down to our last few breaths in this life, our bad works and our good works will be expelled like bilge from a ship, and the only thing that will matter is, "have we accepted Christ through faith and His marvelous Grace?"
Our salvation is the most critical issue we will ever have to deal with. Everything else, our retirement fund, our children's college fund, health insurance coverage, pales when compared to the question of our salvation. Many people become perplexed with the difference between doing good works for salvation and doing good works because of salvation; the difference will determine where you spend eternity. The only safe ground we can walk on in this life is God's free grace, but let us never forget that it did come with a price, although it is free. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation; God saved us to do good works; good works do not save us. The difference between life eternal in heaven or hell is knowing the difference between a works salvation and salvation by grace.
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