Sermon Central
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Saved By Faith
Contributed by William R. Nabaza on May 15, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: To show that we are all saved by faith in JESUS and our peace will be turned into constant perfect peace if we give first ourselves to the LORD.
I. EXORDIUM:
Are you saved by faith?
Yes. Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers
III. OBJECTIVES:
To show that we are all saved by faith in JESUS and our peace will be turned into constant perfect peace if we give first ourselves to the LORD.
IV. TEXT:
But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].
V. THESIS:
Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You have given us free grace through faith to save our souls from eternal destruction and eternal death.
VI. TITLE:
Saved by faith
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Dr. Luke, The Beloved Physician (close friend and traveling companion of Paul)
B. Audience: Theophilus (Greek means friend of GOD, a Christian)
C. Purpose: To give a connected and orderly narrative of the life of CHRIST as seen by eyewitnesses
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. Our faith has saved us
"But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you;"
Saving faith saved us not by our good works or anything we can do for the LORD.
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Be true to yourself. Is there anything a limited man can do to an unlimited GOD? Nothing. We are both nothing and can do nothing. Our good works are just filthy rags in GOD's sight. Only our faith can please GOD not our works. We prove our works by our actions of faith.
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].
But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).
B. Go into peace
"go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin]"
It's interesting to note that the LORD JESUS CHRIST have invited this sinful woman not to "soteria" [Greek word for Salvation] but to "sozo" first meaning "deliverance and protection" from sin, and the LORD offered "eirene" instead of the peace offered to believers which is "shalom". The woman needs first deliverance from her past sins and protection from it, so that she will never commit them again. She has peace or "quietness and rest" still from her past life not the peace offered to believers.
THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
