“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”

— John 6:47

“so that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.”

— Ephesians 1:12

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”

— Ephesians 2:8-10

“13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

15-16a that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life…”

–Philippians 2:13, 15-16a

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace and mercy from Christ to you.

People are brought into God‘s kingdom not by any good work they have done, but by God‘s grace alone, which is the unwarranted, undeserved mercy and love from God toward them. What is even more shocking is that God intends that in the world they shall be examples of His amazing living trophies of His great and unfailing love.

The Apostle Paul describes God’s people as His workmanship or work of art, masterpiece, created in Christ to do good works that God has prepared in advance for them to do. Paul strongly emphasized that they were NOT saved BY their own good works, but they were saved FOR good works. This is a crucial distinction. People’s good works are never the cause of salvation but the fruit and evidence of salvation. We, saved believers, are urged to be zealous for good works and to devote ourselves to God’s good works. (inspired by C. S. Lewis)