Lesson 2922

(Lesson 2922)(12-30-19) Ephesians 2:1-10
    “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

   Today’s lesson contains one of the clearest affirmations of how a lost soul may receive and maintain eternal life that is to be found in the entire New Testament. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
    Today, there are literally millions of people, the world over, who mistakenly believe that one must live above sin and jump through a series of ritualistic hoops, such as water baptism, in order to be redeemed unto everlasting life. Just as Paul so eloquently verifies in the above quote, nothing could be further from the truth. Subjecting oneself to water baptism is a work; Therefore, on CANNOT be saved by water baptism.
    It is the duty of every born again child of God to make sure that we do everything within our power to teach and correct those horrible distortions of God’s promise of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.~