Photo Credit: KnowingJesus.com
This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles on September 7, 2025.
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV [1] And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, [2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [3] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Text
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Introduction
Good morning. I want to begin with a simple question: How do we get right with God? If you were to stand before Him today, what would you say is your reason for being allowed into His presence? For many people and I bet you know some of them, the answer often involves a list: "I've tried to be a good person," "I've gone to church," "I've served others," or "I've avoided major sins". Some politicians think that, doing good deeds, can earn them a place in heaven.
We are a people conditioned to believe that we must earn our way. Our society operates on a system of merit. We earn our salary, we earn our grades, and we earn a good reputation. It’s natural, then, to think that we must also earn our salvation.
While human efforts at doing good things for others is admirable and important, the Bible tells a much different story about salvation. Our scripture reading and our text today, shatters the notion that doing good things, doing good works will get you into heaven and eternity in God’s presence.
Point 1: Our Desperate Condition (Ephesians 2:1-3)
The jarring truth is that we, mankind, were in a very desperate condition.
Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV [1] And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, [2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [3] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
A child of wrath is a person who, by their own nature, is inclined toward sin and rebellion against God, and is therefore subject to God's judgment. This is not a label of condemnation, but rather a description of the human condition apart from God's grace. It points to the idea that we are born into a state of spiritual brokenness that separates us from God and makes us deserving of His righteous anger.
I Corinthians 15:22 NKJV [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Romans 5:12, 19 NKJV [12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
[19] For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
But here's the Good News. Even though all men are sinners because of Adam’s sin there is God’s Amazing Grace.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
That scripture starts with two words that change everything. "But God...". Where we were dead, God, "being rich in mercy," made us alive. He didn't wait for us to clean up our act; He loved us while we were still dead in our sins.
Romans 5:8 NKJV But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This action—bringing us from death to life—is a sovereign act of God. It is a work of pure grace. "by grace you have been saved." Grace is undeserved favor. It is the spontaneous, unmerited, and sovereign favor of God toward humanity. It is God's free gift, given out of His love and goodness, which humans could never earn or deserve on their own. It's not a reward; it’s a gift, which brings us to the main point of this message today which is
Point 3: The Role of Faith and the Exclusion of Works
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Grace is the method, and faith is the means by which we are saved. Faith is simply trusting in what God has done through Jesus Christ. It’s not a work we perform; it's received.
The Bible clearly states that salvation is not something you can earn through your actions, so no one can boast about deserving it.
This is a direct refutation of any system of salvation based on human effort. If we could earn it, we could boast about it. We could say, "Look at what I did." But God structured salvation in such a way that all the glory belongs to Him. The cross of Jesus Christ is the sole basis for our salvation.
Titus 3:4-7 NKJV But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Our good deeds don't save us. Our religious rituals and traditions don't save us. Only faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross saves us.
Romans 3:27-28 NKJV Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Point 4: So does this mean that good works are unimportant? (Ephesians 2:10)
Absolutely not. Our works are not the root of our salvation; they are the fruit of our salvation. Repeat that
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Our works are not what gets us into heaven; they are the evidence that we belong to God, that we are God’s children. We do good works not to earn God's love, but we do good works as a response to God's love, not as a means to earn it. Our actions become a joyful and grateful expression of the grace we have already received, a living testament to the transformative power of faith in our lives.
Our good works are then motivated by love and gratitude, not by a desire to earn something we've already been freely given. Our lives of service, generosity, and obedience are the natural overflow of a heart that has been transformed by grace.
Conclusion
So, back to our original question: How do we get right with God? The answer is not in our effort, but in His grace. Our part is to stop striving and start trusting. To let go of our own lists of accomplishments and cling to the one, perfect work of Jesus Christ.
If you have been living as though you need to earn your way to God, hear this today: Jesus has already paid the price. Your salvation is a gift, received by faith alone. Trust in Jesus, and you will be saved. Then, from that place of security and love, live a life that glorifies Him with the good works He has prepared for you.
So, what are these "good works"? I submit based on the life of Jesus that they aren't just grand, public gestures, but are often found in the everyday fabric of our lives. They are not a one-size-fits-all list, but can include things like:
Serving others: This could be as simple as helping a neighbor, volunteering in your community, or taking care of your family with love and patience.
Building up the church community: This involves using your unique gifts and talents to serve other believers, whether through teaching, encouragement, hospitality, or practical service.
Living a life of integrity: This means doing your work with honesty and excellence, treating others with kindness, and being a person of your word, so that your life is a testament to your faith.
Sharing your faith: This isn't just about formal evangelism but about naturally and humbly sharing the hope and peace you have in Christ with those around you.
Caring for the needy and oppressed: Scripture repeatedly calls believers to care for the poor, the sick, the marginalized, and the broken.
Ultimately, the good works God has prepared for you are a reflection of your unique life, gifts, and circumstances. They are the ways in which you live out your faith in a practical way, bringing God's light and love into the world around you. These good works are a joyful expression of the life you have in Christ.
Prayer
We confess that our natural inclination is to rely on ourselves and our own efforts to get right with you. We are so often tempted to create our own lists of good deeds, thinking they will earn us a place in your presence. Forgive us for our pride and for believing that we could ever do enough to save ourselves.
Thank you for shattering that notion with the truth of your amazing grace. Thank you for not leaving us in our state of spiritual death, and for, in your great mercy, making us alive in Christ. We are overwhelmed by your love, a love that was given to us while we were still "children of wrath" and separated from you. We praise you for the perfect, finished work of Jesus on the cross—the only basis for our salvation.
Help us to fully embrace the truth that salvation is a gift, received by faith and not earned by works. As we continue to align our lives with your will, may our good deeds be the natural overflow of our gratitude, not a striving for your favor. May our lives truly be a testament to your incredible wealth of grace and kindness.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
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