Grace, Not Good Deeds

Bill Brinkworth

In Ephesians 2, Paul addresses converted Gentiles (vs. 11), and he reminds them of the most important points of how they became a Christian. This crucial step has eluded many religions, even some “Christian” denominations. The distinctions that separate a lost, even religious, person from a saved person are that:

A saved person is saved by grace through faith (vs. 8), by the fact that Jesus died on the cross and paid for their sins. Grace is “free, unmerited love” from God. A person is saved, not because one is good looking, worthy of salvation due to superior intelligence, or an exceptional person. All are saved because God is good, and He loves us; and it has nothing to do with who we are. If we will make the first step to believe Jesus died for our sins, God’s love will do the rest. We have to go first, not wait to have some kind of proof; but do as a child does when he believes what his parents tell him. The child simply believes and obeys; so must we do and trust what God has told us.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8 A “gift” is freely given and does not include a price to the recipient.

We are saved because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s approval (vs. 9), other than trusting Christ as Saviour. No amount of good works, kindness, or religious mumbo-jumbo will get us higher than the coffin lid. We cannot earn our way, because the ticket has already been paid. Trying to do something to earn salvation is negating the trusting by faith we must do.
“Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9

However, doing deeds according to what Scripture commands; doing what we can do for the cause of Christ, or bringing honor to God after we are saved is the right thing to do for Him (vs. 10). A born-again person is saved to serve, not to just sit and soak in God’s goodness.

Many nod their head in agreement to Ephesians 2:8-9, but do not connect what it says to what they may be doing or believing. The whole point of the two verses is there is nothing we can do to earn heaven. We must only trust what God has already done for us. Yet, even biblical doctrines have been turned into good works people hope will make them worthy of heaven. Countless people and religious leaders have clarified their salvation as “Of course I am going to heaven, I have been baptized”, “I tithe”, “help the poor”, “have done the sacraments”, “live a good life”, or “I obey the rules of my church”. Some of them may be good works that will please God after one is saved, but none are good works to get one saved and to heaven. Those deeds become conditions added to what God said to do in Eph. 2:8-9. It is faith only that will get one God’s promise of heaven. You cannot add anything to it.

“All the religions of the world teach that getting to Heaven is either through doing good works or by God’s grace. The Bible says it is only grace that will get anyone there.