The message Mike Ratliff posted is short and certainly right on. I checked his translation and the LSB to the KJV and they all say the same thing with similar words…the message is clear. You can’t earn Salvation no matter what our works (good) are.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It is interesting in reading old John Gill’s commentary, (which you can see I’ve over highlighted).…I noted Gill clearly states that our predestination (aka our Salvation) is not according to good works. And there is no contradiction or inconsistency in the doctrines of Salvation and Works taught in the Bible. Elsewhere I’ve observed with careful reading Paul, Peter and James do in fact say the same thing.

….Before Prepared or Before Ordained are interchangeable.

That in itself is an amazing concept which I feel totally at a loss to understand. Not only that we ourselves were chosen before the foundation of the world, created in Christ, not for our own glory but for God’s glory, but also the very works that are the fruits and effect of that when we come to a realization of our Salvation are also prepared for us.

The key to understanding this is to be immensely in God’s word and learning about the commands of God…these lead us in straight path.

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Understanding this……we are then to Walk this Way in our daily lives. Physically I have a goal to walk 10,000 steps a day, or at least 70,000 steps a week. At times it’s hard or I’m tired, it’s nice to have a wife who encourages me to walk again each day after dinner….and that’s sometimes just enough to put me over. But it should also be joyful….

Disney had an old tune in the original Snow White Whistle While You Work that is a delightful way to capture the nature of the joy that comes along that path.

Maybe it’s a bit of the experience we have in following the old Catechism…

Larger Catechism

Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

If you want further study of this look up a video or audio of the Disney song… and read the Westminster Section On Good Works.

CHAPTER 16
Of Good Works

1. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.

2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.

3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of his good pleasure: yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

4. They who, in their obedience, attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.

5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins, but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants: and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment.

6. Notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God’s sight; but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.

7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God: and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.

Oh, I almost forgot here is Mike’s post which started this discussion…

Filthy Rags

Enjoy waking the walk!