For by grace you are saved through faith and this is not out of you, the gift of God, not out of works (or acts) that no one should be boasting. For of Him we are workmanship being created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God makes ready beforehand that in them we should walk (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Our righteousness is in Jesus's work alone; his birth, death, resurrection, and authority. As believers we are under a new covenant of Grace, adopted as his children, sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of inheritance. We live it out in spirit and in truth, we worship God in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit lives in us and guides us into all truth. Jesus is the truth, the word of God. To follow him is to live out his plan expediently, experiencing his suffering, and with perseverance to run the race he has set before us.
While righteousness is not by our works we must understand that faith without works is impossible. We run the race before us because we love him, we love him because he first loved us, his long arm reached down and grabbed us. He wants our heart, not a perception of, but a real relationship. He uses our faith to work out his plan, that none of his will be lost, his kingdom come on earth as in heaven. We must live out his works from Grace and Victory, not from the law and legalism, but by growing our roots deep in his love and identity in him. From this solid foundation we begin to do the good works that He has created for us to do, as we were created for His workmanship. We crawl, walk, and then run the race.
Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Jesus is the word of God, who was in the beginning with God, was God, and who created all things. He was God who became flesh to dwell among us and he was despised and rejected by man. A man of sorrow, he counted himself not equal to God but humbled himself, becoming a servant, even to the point of death on a cross, and for the joy set before him, our redemption, he endured the shame.
Jesus is the good shepherd, the way, the truth, and the life. He is good, his love is enduring and lasts forever. He is the bread of life and living water that satisfies the soul. To live out his good works we must know him. To know him is to love him and each other. To love him is to seek him; seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened unto you, ask and you will receive.
Wonderful - Phil Wickham
Our righteousness is in Jesus's work alone; his birth, death, resurrection, and authority. As believers we are under a new covenant of Grace, adopted as his children, sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of inheritance. We live it out in spirit and in truth, we worship God in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit lives in us and guides us into all truth. Jesus is the truth, the word of God. To follow him is to live out his plan expediently, experiencing his suffering, and with perseverance to run the race he has set before us.
While righteousness is not by our works we must understand that faith without works is impossible. We run the race before us because we love him, we love him because he first loved us, his long arm reached down and grabbed us. He wants our heart, not a perception of, but a real relationship. He uses our faith to work out his plan, that none of his will be lost, his kingdom come on earth as in heaven. We must live out his works from Grace and Victory, not from the law and legalism, but by growing our roots deep in his love and identity in him. From this solid foundation we begin to do the good works that He has created for us to do, as we were created for His workmanship. We crawl, walk, and then run the race.
Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Jesus is the word of God, who was in the beginning with God, was God, and who created all things. He was God who became flesh to dwell among us and he was despised and rejected by man. A man of sorrow, he counted himself not equal to God but humbled himself, becoming a servant, even to the point of death on a cross, and for the joy set before him, our redemption, he endured the shame.
Jesus is the good shepherd, the way, the truth, and the life. He is good, his love is enduring and lasts forever. He is the bread of life and living water that satisfies the soul. To live out his good works we must know him. To know him is to love him and each other. To love him is to seek him; seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened unto you, ask and you will receive.
Wonderful - Phil Wickham