OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2020.
THEME: BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH.
MEMORISE:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8
READ: Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
MESSAGE:
Many of our beloved ‘grace’ preachers have often misinterpreted today’s Bible reading to mean that since being saved is not by works but grace, you can do whatever you like and still maintain your salvation.
Grace means unmerited favor. That means, you did not do anything to be amongst those who God decided to save. John 6:44 says “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 15:16 says “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you” It is only by grace that we had an encounter that brought us into a relationship with Christ.
The passage then goes on to say that we are “saved through faith”. So, we are not only saved through faith. This means that even if the grace is available for you to be saved, salvation can only occur through your faith. Now faith is the belief in Christ and His finished work on the cross. Romans 10:9 says:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
So, no faith, no salvation. The Bible says in James 2:18-20:
“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
You cannot claim to have faith in Christ finished work on the cross and still be acting againt His word. Without faith, even with the availability of grace, you can neither be saved nor please God (Galatians 6:7).
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
KEY POINT:
Grace does not give you the liberty to sin, rather, it gives you the ability to live above it.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Peter 1-5
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 18: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE,
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!
3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!
Amen and Amen
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