Discipleship

Ephesians 2 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

James 2 ESV

20 faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

The first part is my faith in what He did.

My works as a result of what He did.

BIG QUESTION:

Why are my works important?

And why is it important to have the right perspective concerning why we do “righteous works?”

First

1 Why is it important to have the right perspective concerning “righteous works?”

“The right perspective clarifies identity.”

“The right perspective clarifies RESPONSIBILITY.”

Ephesians 1 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

We do righteous works, because we are righteous.

We do right works OUT OF our right standing with God.

We do right works because we love Him.

By the work He did in Christ through the Blood……

I am loved.

I am accepted

I am forgiven

Ephesians 1 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

“The right perspective clarifies identity.”

“The right perspective clarifies RESPONSIBILITY.”

“The right perspective clarifies feasibility.”

Ephesians 2 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are a living spirit.

We are a new creation.

We have a new heart

We are His workmanship.

“The right perspective clarifies identity.”

“The right perspective clarifies RESPONSIBILITY.”

“The right perspective clarifies feasibility.”

2. Why are my works important?

James 2 ESV

20 faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Faith apart from works is useless!

My works are evidence of a change.

My works are the only appropriate response to His work.