S1E14 Salvation NOT by our Works

My dear friend, wherever you are, I hope you're very well by the grace of God. Listen to the wording of the fourth commandment with which you are quite familiar by now. 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11

 You will observe that the works of God are identified, but the works of humanity are not identified. The commandments simply says “six days you shall labour and do all your work” that’s as far as it goes, but as it relates to God, it is more specific. Of God’s work it says “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them”. The fourth commandment identifies the scope of the work of God, it does not identify the scope of the work of humanity. What is the lesson for you and for me? 

In the plan of salvation, in a relationship with God, the important stress does not lie on your works or my works, the emphasis must lie and remain on the works of God! In Ephesians 2:8, the Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”. In other words, not of human works. Then verse 10 says “For we are His workmanship….”. And so, we have “works” in verse 9 and we have “workmanship” in verse 10. The works of a man or a woman in verse 9 do not count towards that person’s salvation. It is the work of God! If you consider yourself as having to work, our work is to surrender to God and allow God to work in us, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

The works of God are the foundation of our salvation, “our work” is to remain surrendered to God. The bible says “without me, you can do nothing”- John 15:5. And so the Sabbath is a day to remember that salvation is the work of God in the life of the surrendered person. The fourth commandment that calls upon you and I to rest on the seventh day identifies the scope of God’s work, but it does not identify the scope of the work of humanity because our work is not the foundation of our salvation. It is the work of God in our lives!

As you keep the Sabbath holy, remember the Creator of heaven and earth wants to create a righteous life in you and your work is to remain surrendered. May the Lord bless you as you allow God to work in you on this holy Sabbath day, that your life may be a reflection of your Creator. God bless you and may God doubly bless your children.