For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9)We love it. That "gift of God." The "not as a result of works." Good stuff. It's largely this verse that drives the "Faith Alone" phrase. That phrase was aimed specifically at "faith apart from works." There are the antinomians -- those who claim there are no rules in Christendom -- based on this text. We know for a fact that we are saved by faith and not by works. And it's a good thing. We wouldn't meet the standard otherwise.
Here's the thing. Many of us can quote those two verses, but the very next verse seems to go unnoticed.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Eph 2:10)For a minute, we're tempted to urge Paul to go back and check what he just wrote. Isn't it a contradiction? No. We are certainly saved "not of works," but it is equally certain that we are saved ... what's the phrase? ..."for good works." It's reminiscent of James who wrote, "Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:17). We are saved by faith alone, but we are not saved by a faith that is alone. Saving faith changes you. That's what it says. "We are His workmanship." So expect changes. Expect God's working in you ... so you will do good works. Don't stop at "saved apart from works" when we're actually saved for good works.
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Eph. 2:8-10 highlights yet another way we glorify God in our salvation, as we pursue works of righteousness rather than works of the flesh and become laborers who help advance God’s Kingdom rather than Satan’s. In my Bible, I have the word “workmanship” in Eph. 2:10 circled and the word “poem” written in the margin. Apparently, long ago, I heard someone explain that “workmanship” there was from the Greek “poiema,” [sorry, I don’t have Greek characters on my keyboard] meaning “poem” (or “masterpiece” or “work of art”). Indeed, we are God’s handiwork in Christ Jesus, as He develops the fruit of the Spirit in us. Once again, I see that my election and regeneration had a purpose and fit within the Lord’s glorious plan, all to His glory.
It is odd that so often we seem to stop at "apart from works" and think that works aren't part of the Christian life. But if our heart truly has been changed, then our life would clearly reflect that internal change. Just like baptism is an outward sign of an inward change, our works are as well. "Carnal Christian" is no christian at all.
Stan, you wrote: Saving faith changes you. That's what it says. "We are His workmanship." So expect changes. Expect God's working in you ... so you will do good works. Don't stop at "saved apart from works" when we're actually saved for good works.
This is of course the very gist of the “Lordship salvation” issue, about which Dr. John MacArthur taught quite a bit. This teaching was important to me personally as a young believer, as I wished to hold the proper view of “not saved by works but for works” (having replaced a works-righteousness belief system with a grace/faith-based one, as I did). In a desire to avoid the error on one side of the spectrum, I might have swung too far towards the opposite end (“cheap grace” or “easy believism”) and been tempted to eschew works altogether. John’s teachings helped me greatly find the correct balance, as I learned what the fruits of true salvation within my Spirit-led sanctification will look like. In honor of John MacArthur’s passing last evening, I wanted to mention how apropos and timely your corresponding thoughts were today in that regard.
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