grace, faith and works

GRACE, FAITH AND WORKSLesson 35

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What is our natural spiritual condition?

• How is a transgression different from a sin?

• Who is the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”?

• What are we by nature according to verse 3?

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What is our natural spiritual condition?• Dead in sin• How is a transgression different from a sin?

• Who is the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”?


Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What is our natural spiritual condition?• Dead in sin• How is a transgression different from a sin?• To transgress is to cross the line and to sin is to miss

the mark.• Who is the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”?



the mark.• Who is the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”?• The devil• What are we by nature according to verse 3?


the mark.• Who is the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”?• The devil• What are we by nature according to verse 3?• Objects of wrath

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What does it mean to be “rich in mercy”?

• Who makes us spiritually alive?

• How are we saved?

• How are we not saved?

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What does it mean to be “rich in mercy”?• To have a lot of mercy• Who makes us spiritually alive?

• How are we saved?


Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What does it mean to be “rich in mercy”?• To be full of or to have a lot of mercy• Who makes us spiritually alive?• God (not us)• How are we saved?


Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What does it mean to be “rich in mercy”?• To be full of or to have a lot of mercy• Who makes us spiritually alive?• God (not us)• How are we saved?• By grace, through faith• How are we not saved?

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What does it mean to be “rich in mercy”?• To be full of or to have a lot of mercy• Who makes us spiritually alive?• God (not us)• How are we saved?• By grace, through faith• How are we not saved?• Not by works!

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What has God created us to do?

• What has God prepared for us to do?

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What has God created us to do?• Good works• What has God prepared for us to do?

Ephesians 2:1-10 – Points to Note• What has God created us to do?• Good works• What has God prepared for us to do?• Good works

Discussion• Why do we say that we are saved by “faith alone”?

• Why do we say that we are saved by “grace alone”?

• Do you know who used these phrases?

Discussion• Why do we say that we are saved by “faith alone”?• Because it does not depend on our works or on

anything inside of us or anything we do.• Why do we say that we are saved by “grace alone”?

• Do you know who used these phrases?


anything inside of us or anything we do.• Why do we say that we are saved by “grace alone”?• It is a gift of God and not something we earned or

deserved.• Do you know who used these phrases?


anything inside of us or anything we do.• Why do we say that we are saved by “grace alone”?• It is a gift of God and not something we earned or

deserved.• Do you know who used these phrases? • Martin Luther

Break and quiz time!

The Bible and My Life• What do we mean when we say we are saved by grace

alone?• John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his

one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


alone?• John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his

one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• God gave us his Son


alone?• Romans 3:24-25 - and are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished


alone?• Romans 3:24-25 - and are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.

• Justified freely by God’s grace


alone?• Ephesians 1:7-8 - In him we have redemption through his

blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.


alone?• Ephesians 1:7-8 - In him we have redemption through his

blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

• Done out of God’s rich grace


alone?• Answer – We mean that salvation is a completely free

gift of God through Christ and not because we have earned or deserved it.

Definition:• Grace =• God’s undeserved love for us• God’s• Riches• At• Christ’s• Expense

The Bible and My Life• What do we mean when we say we are saved by faith

alone?• Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope

for and certain of what we do not see.


alone?• Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we

hope for and certain of what we do not see.• Faith = a sure and certain hope


alone?• Galatians 2:16 - know that a man is not justified by

observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.


alone?• Galatians 2:16 - know that a man is not justified by

observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

• Not by observing the law


alone?• Romans 3:28 - For we maintain that a man is justified by

faith apart from observing the law.


alone?• Romans 3:28 - For we maintain that a man is justified by

faith apart from observing the law. • Apart from observing the law


alone?• Answer – We mean that we are saved only and

entirely by faith and not at all by the things we do.

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from all

wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Titus 2:14 - who gave himself for us to redeem us from

all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

• Because Jesus redeemed us we are eager to do good works

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word

or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word

or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• Good works are the believer’s giving thanks to being saved.

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Answer – Good works are the believer’s response to

faith in Jesus’ redemption. We do good works NOT to be saved, but because we ARE saved.

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please

God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to

please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

• Faith is needed to please God

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you to will

and to act according to his good purpose.

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you to will

and to act according to his good purpose. • God works in us to do them

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

• Living for Christ

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a

light for my path.

The Bible and My Life• What role do good works play in the life of a believer?• Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a

light for my path. • Good works are guided by God’s Word

The Bible and My Life• How am I able to do good works?• Answer – I am able to do good works, guided by

God’s Word, through faith in Christ. His love motivates me to live for God and please him.

Homework• Look at the end of the last page of your notes!

Homework

• Memorize: Power of Baptism (p 9 in Catechism); Ephesians 2:8-10

• Study notes for a quiz • Read: Romans 7:7-25

grace, faith and works

Documents

gift of god

natural spiritual condition

transgression different

lot of mercywho

good workswhat

good worksdiscussionwhy

objects of wrathephesians