Lesson Description
In this lesson, we will discover why the new birth cannot be earned through good works, religious activities, or personal efforts. Through Scripture, we will learn that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, made available through Jesus Christ. We will also distinguish between receiving eternal life and living out the new life we have received. Our goal is to understand that good works are not the price we pay for salvation; they are part of the life God calls us to live in Christ.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace and for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. As I study Your Word, help me understand that I cannot earn salvation through my own efforts. Open my understanding to the truth of Your finished work through Christ. Teach me to rest in Your grace rather than live under the burden of trying to prove my worth through religious activities. Help me understand the place of good works in the life of a believer. May my life reflect Your love, not as an attempt to purchase salvation, but as a response to the life You have freely given me. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Lesson Content
1. Salvation Is by Grace Through Faith
Scripture: Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Paul explains that salvation comes by grace through faith. Grace speaks of God’s undeserved favour, while faith is our response of trust in Him.
Notice that Paul says salvation is not of ourselves. We do not produce it, purchase it, or earn it through personal achievements. Salvation is God’s gift.
This truth is foundational to understanding the new birth. If eternal life could be earned through good works, it would no longer be received as God’s gift.
Practical Example:
Imagine someone who believes that God will give them eternal life only after they have done enough good deeds. Ephesians 2:8 directs that person’s attention away from personal achievement and toward God’s grace, received through faith.
Remember: Salvation is God’s gift of grace, received through faith, not earned through personal effort.
2. Good Works Cannot Be the Price of Salvation
Scripture: Ephesians 2:9 (KJV)
“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Paul continues by explaining why salvation is not based on works: no one should boast as though they had earned it.
If we could obtain eternal life through our own achievements, we might treat salvation as something we deserved. But the gospel points us to what God has done through Jesus Christ.
This does not mean that good works are worthless. It means that good works cannot be the foundation on which we claim to have earned salvation.
Practical Example:
A person may give generously, help the poor, serve in church, and treat others kindly. These actions may benefit others, but they do not give that person grounds to boast that they purchased eternal life.
Remember: No one earns salvation through good works; our confidence rests in God’s grace.
3. God Saves Us According to His Mercy
Scripture: Titus 3:5 (KJV)
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Paul directly contrasts our righteous works with God’s mercy.
The verse teaches that salvation is not the reward God owes us because we have performed enough righteous deeds. It is rooted in His mercy and includes the regeneration and renewal associated with the Holy Spirit.
This is especially important when we consider the new birth. We do not become spiritually alive because we have successfully made ourselves righteous through human effort. Our hope rests on God’s saving work.
Practical Example:
Someone who has made serious mistakes may believe that they must first make themselves perfect before approaching God. Titus 3:5 reminds us that salvation rests on God’s mercy, not on our ability to establish a perfect record.
Remember: God saves us according to His mercy, not because we have earned His saving work.
4. Eternal Life Is a Gift, Not Wages
Scripture: Romans 6:23 (KJV)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Paul contrasts wages with a gift.
Wages are earned through work. A gift is received from the giver. In this verse, Paul contrasts the outcome of sin with God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Eternal life is not a salary God pays us for attending church, fasting, giving money, or performing religious duties. It is God’s gift through Christ.
This distinction helps us avoid turning Christian living into a system in which we try to accumulate enough good deeds to qualify for eternal life.
Practical Example:
A worker expects wages because they have worked for them. But a person receiving a gift does not claim to have earned it. In the same way, we should not treat eternal life as payment for our religious performance.
Remember: Eternal life is God’s gift through Jesus Christ, not wages earned through our works.
5. We Are Justified by Faith, Not by Works of the Law
Scripture: Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Paul teaches that justification does not come through the works of the law.
To be justified is to be declared righteous. In this passage, Paul explains that justification is not achieved by keeping the law but is connected with faith in Jesus Christ.
This is not a licence to ignore God’s truth. Rather, it directs us to understand that our righteous standing before God is not something we establish by successfully keeping a religious code.
Practical Example:
A person might believe that observing particular religious days or following a list of rules makes them worthy of salvation. Paul’s teaching directs attention to justification through faith in Christ rather than confidence in works of the law.
Remember: Our righteous standing before God is not earned by keeping the law; we look to Jesus Christ.
6. Abraham Was Counted Righteous Through Faith
Scripture: Romans 4:3 (KJV)
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Paul uses Abraham to explain the relationship between faith and righteousness.
Abraham believed God, and his faith was counted unto him for righteousness. Paul develops this example to show that righteousness is not a reward earned through works.
Abraham’s example teaches us to take God at His Word. Our confidence should be in the One who makes the promise, not in our ability to establish a claim through personal achievement.
Practical Example:
When God promises eternal life through Jesus Christ, we respond by believing His promise rather than trying to earn the promise through a collection of religious accomplishments.
Remember: Abraham’s example demonstrates the importance of believing God rather than trusting in works as the basis for righteousness.
7. Grace Does Not Mean We Earn Salvation by Obedience
Scripture: Romans 11:6 (KJV)
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
Paul explains that grace and works cannot be treated as interchangeable foundations for receiving something.
If salvation is received on the basis of grace, it is not a payment earned through works. Otherwise, we would no longer be treating it as grace.
This verse helps us understand why we should not mix the idea of a freely given gift with the idea that we must earn that same gift.
Obedience still matters in the Christian life, but we must distinguish obedience as part of our walk with God from works performed to earn salvation.
Practical Example:
A believer may pray, study Scripture, serve others, and give generously. These activities can be expressions of Christian living, but they should not be treated as payments that persuade God to grant eternal life.
Remember: Grace means salvation is not earned through works, even though believers are called to live in obedience to God.
8. We Are God’s Workmanship, Created in Christ for Good Works
Scripture: Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
This verse follows Paul’s explanation that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works.
Notice the order in Paul’s teaching:
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We are saved by grace through faith.
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Salvation is not earned through works.
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We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Good works are not presented as the price of salvation. Instead, Paul explains that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
This distinction is important. We do not perform good works to purchase a new life from God. We learn to live out the life and purpose associated with belonging to Christ.
Practical Example:
A believer who understands God’s grace may help a struggling neighbour, support someone in need, or share the gospel. These actions can express the love of Christ without becoming attempts to purchase salvation.
Remember: We are not saved by good works, but we are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
9. We Love Because God First Loved Us
Scripture: 1 John 4:19 (KJV)
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
John directs our attention to the source of our love for God.
God’s love comes first. Our response does not create His love or purchase His acceptance. Instead, our love is a response to the love He has already shown.
This principle helps us understand the proper place of Christian service. We do not have to earn God’s love through constant religious activity. We respond to His love with faith, gratitude, and a life that seeks to honour Him.
Practical Example:
Someone who serves others only because they fear God will reject them may begin to feel burdened and discouraged. Understanding God’s love helps that person see service as an expression of gratitude rather than an attempt to earn acceptance.
Remember: We respond to God’s love because He loved us first.
10. Our New Life Should Produce a Changed Walk
Scripture: Colossians 2:6 (KJV)
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
Paul reminds believers to continue their walk in Christ in the same way they received Him.
The Christian life begins with receiving Christ, not earning Him. Paul then calls believers to walk in Him.
This teaches us to distinguish between the basis of our salvation and the way we live after receiving Christ. Our conduct matters, but it is not the purchase price of eternal life.
As we grow in understanding God’s Word, we learn to express our faith through love, honesty, patience, service, and other godly qualities.
Practical Example:
A believer who has received Christ can seek to become more patient, truthful, and generous. These changes are part of learning to walk in Christ, not a method of buying salvation.
Remember: We receive Christ through faith and learn to walk in Him; Christian growth is not a payment for eternal life.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, we have learned that:
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Salvation is by grace through faith.
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Good works cannot purchase salvation.
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God saves us according to His mercy.
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Eternal life is God’s gift through Jesus Christ.
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Justification does not come through works of the law.
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Abraham’s example demonstrates the importance of believing God.
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Grace and works are not interchangeable foundations for salvation.
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Believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
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We love God because He loved us first.
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Our new life should be expressed through a walk with Christ.
Final Takeaway
We do not work to earn eternal life; we receive God’s gift through Jesus Christ. Good works are not the price of salvation but an expression of the life we have received in Him.
Reflection Question
Have you ever felt that you needed to do enough good things, pray enough prayers, or perform enough religious activities to earn God’s acceptance? How does understanding salvation by grace through faith change your perspective?
Take time to read Ephesians 2:8–10 again and notice the order in which Paul presents salvation and good works.