Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
July 7, 2002 P.M.
The Believer's Work Of Grace
Reading - Ephesians 2.4-10
"It is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one should boast. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Church... Our salvation is by grace. This is what the Bible says. So it becomes pointless for us to argue differently. The only way any of us can be saved is by what Jesus did for us at the cross.
Well... How do we get to be beneficiaries of this salvation? The Bible says... By our faith!... What's faith? Faith is trusting in what He did for us at Calvary. Trusting in His commandments and promises enough to obey them.
That's the beautiful thing about baptism. Baptism is putting our faith in the... death... burial... and resurrection of Jesus. Listen to Romans chapter 6 and Galatians 3:
Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?... In order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life... For if we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection... We are all sons of God by faith in Christ, for as many as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, have been clothed with Christ.
Salvation is by Grace through our Faith... Not of WORKS so that no one can boast…
When the Bible speaks of works in such a negative sense, it is speaking of works of merit... The belief that we could do something... anything!!... that would win the favor of God. I like what Martin Luther said when asked if baptism was a work that saves us... He said... Yes... It is... But it is not our work... man's work... but God's.
Folk... There is nothing we can do that would place God in our debt. We're not saved because we are so good or so great an individual. Good people aren't going to heaven and bad people to hell... Saved people are going to heaven. There is a difference and that difference is our response to God's Amazing Grace. Scripture says... "All our rightness... All our good works is but filthy rags in His sight." We are not saved because of our works, but because of our FAITH in His work of redemption... AMEN??... AMEN!!.
But listen to this... Verse 10 of our reading... We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Do you know why we are here tonight and not in Heaven? Why doesn't God just zap us directly to Heaven at our baptism? Because... Paul says... We are here to do good works. What works are we supposed to be doing? Those which God has prepared in advance for us to do.
Again... It is pointless to argue about God's providence. Our reading tonight is plain... God has predetermined some good works for us to do... That's what the Bible says!!
We are not saved by these works... We work because we are saved. There is a big difference... Right?... Of course. You see church... If we ever correctly comprehend the grace of God... We will be the hardest working people ever to live on this planet. Here it is... The more we comprehend grace, the more we want to work for Jesus in His Kingdom... Not out of a sense of duty... But out of our thankfulness.
May I say this and not make anybody mad... It is amazing to me that those who say they understand grace more than their brothers and sisters in Christ...
- Are the ones who are never here on Sunday night... and Wednesday evening...
- They are seldom found working in the Kingdom of God.
- They are never found at the nursing homes or hospitals serving the Jesus in others.
Folk... I believe that, when we genuinely understand what God has done for us, we will be found rethinking our attendance of worship and fellowship opportunities... We will be found rethinking our serving God by serving others.
Now let's go to our Bibles and note some verses on works... Not works to merit our salvation ... But works because we are being saved. I want you to listen for the word or the idea of WORK in each of these scriptures.
You see... In scripture, WORK is not a four-letter word... But is something that God says is good for us..And plays an important role in our relationship with Him. During His personal ministry... Jesus frequently referred to the Kingdom of God... the Kingdom of Heaven as a place of work...
- A Kingdom where there was work to be done...
- As a vineyard...
- As a field...
Access a worship bulletin and let's look at these scriptures together. I will not preach them as much as just read them... And allow you to draw your own conclusions.
Mark 1.17 -- Jesus said... Come, follow Me... and I will make you fishers of men.
God has a work for us to do... Jesus calls us to work...
- Not just exist...
- Not to be couch potatoes.
- Not to be pew sitters in the church of God.
I will make you fishers of men... Jesus says... I have something for you to do in the Kingdom.
John 4.34 -- My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
The disciples had gone into the city to find food and when they got back to Jacob's well, Jesus said... I am not hungry... My food is to do the will of the Father.
What sustained Jesus was doing the work of God. Church... Do you know why some of us are...
- Unhappy...
- Disillusioned...
- Depressed...
- And feel we're living unfulfilled... empty lives?
Could it be because we are not being about the Fathers business.
God didn't create us to...
- Make money...
- Gather power...
- Make a name for ourselves.
He created us for good works. In His temptation... Jesus said... Man does not live by bread alone, but by the word of God... Doing what it commands.
Question!... Are we trying to be sustained by the will of God or by the trappings of this world?
Matthew 5.13-16 -- You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Church... Nothing... NO THING is more evangelistic than others witnessing us serving Jesus... by serving others. God has providentially placed some people in our paths for this very purpose.
- Will we ignore them...
- Snub them...
- Pass by on the other side of the road...
Or will we serve them as did Jesus?
Romans 6.13 -- Do not offer the parts of your body to sin... As instruments of wickedness... But rather offer yourselves to God as instruments of righteousness.
Paul says... Baptized believers are to be instruments of God. He says... We belong to whom we serve... We who work for -- God or Satan.
Folk... Grace says... We ought to work for God... Become instruments in His service... Living sacrifices... Are we willing?
1 Corinthians 3.9 -- For we are workers together with God.
- What a blessing...
- What a privilege...
- What an honor...
To be working hand in hand with God. Think of the power in that... Working with God. Indeed!!... If God be for us... Who can be against us!!
1 Corinthians 15.10 -- But by the grace of God I am what I am... And His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them, yet not I but the grace of God that was with me.
Listen to me church... Paul is saying... The more we understand grace the harder we work. The more we know about grace the better people we'll be.
Titus 2.11-12 says... For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Grace compels us to:
- Be better...
- To do better...
- To work harder in the kingdom.
2 Corinthians 5.14 says... Christ's love compels us...
The King James says... The love of Christ constrains us.
Here it is... Grace...
- Teaches...
- Compels...
- Constrains...
- Demands...
Discipleship. And discipleship is WORK... Folk.
Here is the bottom line... We will do more out of grace and thankfulness than we will out of a sense of duty.
1 Corinthians 15.58 tells us that our work in the kingdom is ongoing... It is never finished. Stand firm dear brethren... Let nothing move you... Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord... Because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Are we still listening for the idea that Grace prompts us to WORK for the Lord? The Lord's business is not just the preacher's responsibility. His work is not just confined to what we do while we're here in this building. We must always be about our Father's business.
2 Corinthians 5.10 -- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ... That each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body... Whether good or bad. Paul is saying that Our actions... Our work... Our deeds... Our behavior... Speaks of our faith. James puts it this way... Faith is not measured by what we believe... But by:
- Our deeds...
- Our actions...
- Our works.
The devils believe but they don't live out their faith. Their faith does not move them to respond to God's will.
Hebrews chapter eleven tells us our faith must move us to obedience:
- By faith Cain offered a more excellent sacrifice.
- By faith Enoch walked with God.
- By faith Noah built an ark.
- By faith Abraham left the Ur Chaldees when called by God.
Galatians 6.10 lets us know of a certainty that the focus of our works is to be good people.
"Therefore... As we have opportunity... Let us do good to all people... Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Audience... Listen... Paul does not say...
- As the Eldership assigns...
- As the preacher asks...
He says... As we have the opportunity.
This verse ought to prove once and for all that God works providentially... You see, that same providence that foreordained some works for us to do, now gives us the opportunity to do them...
So... The conclusion is that we must do them.
When God providentially brings people into our lives for us to touch... teach... befriend... serve... and do good to... We must JUST DO IT!! God is in the people business... So must we be.
Ephesians 4.11-13 and 16 -- It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Paul tells us in Romans 12 that we are not all gifted with the same ability... We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
No, the body... the church of Christ... is not going to disappear if you and I do not carry our load... But it will be...
- Crippled...
- Inhibited...
- And held back
And those good works God foreordained for us to do will not be done. Those people He purposely brings for us to touch and teach... Will go untouched and untaught.
Philippians 2.12-13 -- Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling... For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
We must understand that salvation is a result of God and man working together. Grace... That's God's part... Grace is God's work. Obedient faith... This is our part.
The Hebrews writer tell us that one of the reasons we meet each Lord's day is to spur one another on to good works. We're not here to just clock in. We're here to encourage one another in working out our salvation.
Here comes practical James in chapter 2.14-26. He doesn't mince words: Faith without works is dead. We are saved by grace through faith... But a faith that does not work... Will not save. Faith must be seen... demonstrated... In our works. Faith is made complete by works.
Church... We are justified by what we do... Not by what we believe. The devils believe... But they do not work.
How about Revelation 14.13 -- Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. They will rest from their labor... For their deeds will follow them. Heaven is a place of rest.
- Are we exhausted from sowing the seed of the kingdom?
- Are we tired from teaching... planting the Word?
- Are we tired from watering the Word?
- Are we tired from turning the other cheek?
- Are we tired from doing good to all men... Especially those of the faith?
Church... What are we tired from...
- Working seven days a week?...
- Collecting this world's goods?...
- Building a portfolio?...
- Playing golf?...
- Fishing?...
- Watching TV?...
- Complaining?
- Worrying?...
God is not promising rest from these labors... But rest from HIS labors.
Then... Eternal judgement is based upon our works. Revelation 20.13 says... The sea gave up the dead that were in it... Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them... And each person was judged according to what he had done.
King James says... According to his works.
Is there any doubt tonight, that based on these scriptures that we are created to do good works?
Now let's notice what happens in our lives when we go to work for God. Yes... We are saved by grace through faith... But... But... There are some rewards that can be ours in the here and now.
First... Working in the kingdom changes our attitude.
You see... Workers don't have time to complain. Find me somebody that is critical of the church and I'll show you someone that is not working in the Kingdom. Want to change your attitude toward the church... Find your place in it... and go to work. This is a guaranteed prescription.
Secondly... Working draws us closer to God.
When we step out to work for God... All of a sudden we realize... Hey... I am not capable of this... So we pray about it... Asking God's help. Our dependence then is upon:
- His enabling us,
- His empowering us to do what he asks us to do.
What do you say when you are called to the ER where a father or a spouse is dying?
What do you say when you hold the hand of a dying hospice patient?
We need God. Working in the kingdom brings us to an understanding that we are dependent upon Him because we know we are all inadequate for the work we are called to do.
Work draws us closer to one another.
The New Testament church at Jerusalem is our example.... They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Jimmy Durante used to tell the story of how... While performing for the armed forces... He saw two soldiers in the second row?
- One had lost a right arm...
- The other a left arm.
Working together... They were applauding him.
Mr. Durante said... That evening I just couldn't stop that show.
Church... It is you working with me that covers up my weaknesses.
I love you for that... I love you for that.
Working keeps the devil away.
An idol mind is the devil's workshop. Jesus told the narrative about a man who had cleaned his heart of all evil only to have Satan come with seven of his henchmen to fill his heart with worse wickedness than was present before the cleansing.
When we are not working... Satan can come, causing us to... worry... become self-centered... be critical of others... have all kinds of lustful, sinful thoughts. We've all experienced this in our lives. Jesus promised in Matthew 28.20 that when we work... When we are about the Father's business... He will be with us always... Even to the end of the age... WHAT A PROMISE!!
Work strengthens our faith.
The more we try God... The more we have reason to trust Him.
- Pray for our enemies?
- Rejoice when you fall into various trials and temptations.
- Give and it shall be given to you shaken down, running over shall men give to you.
- Turn the other cheek
- Go the second mile.
- Serve, wash feet.
Work strengthens our faith even when it doesn't make sense to us.
The bottom line of our lesson is this... God works His will through His people.
And in Bella Vista that's us.
Jesus died for the church... And it is not...
- Some other organization...
- Some other group...
- A society...
- Club...
- Or college... That is commissioned to do the work of God. It is the church.
It is us... This church... Right here in Bella Vista. We must stop being concerned about what other churches believe and practice... Just become God's people and person right here.
When we get to judgment... We will not be judged on what was taught and practiced...
- At the Bentonville congregation...
- At Jane or in Neosho...
- Or at the Bella Vista Community church... But on what happened right here with us.
Indeed!... Indeed... We are God's workmanship... Created in Christ Jesus to do good works... which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Is there something God is asking you to do tonight?
- Perhaps He is waiting for you to become His child by Faith... Repentance... and Baptism.
- Maybe you know something that you ought to be doing... But just don't know how or don't have the courage or strength... Come asking this group of believers to pray for you.
- It could be that you are looking for a place where you can put your God given talents to work. We would like to have you help us become God's workmanship... As we stand and sing this invitation song together... Will you come?
