Saturday, October 15, 2016
SOLA GRATIA (GRACE ALONE) - 6
Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory.
Lord, 'tis not that I did choose you;
That, I know, could never be,
For this heart would still refuse you
Had your grace not chosen me.
You removed the sin that stained me,
Cleansing me to be your own;
For this purpose you ordained me,
That I live for you alone.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
"Of good works I have said and still say: No one can be good and do good unless God’s grace first make him good; and no one becomes good by works, but good works are done only by him who is good. Just so the fruits do not make the tree, but the tree bears the fruit. And, as Christ says: An evil tree will never bear good fruit. Therefore all works, no matter how good they are and how pretty they look, are in vain if they do not flow from grace; not, indeed, entirely in vain; for the good works that are done without the grace of God, God rewards with temporal wealth, honor, might, power, joy friendship, knowledge, understanding, etc. But those good works do not attain life eternal."
-- Martin Luther
