Question:  Dear Greg,

            Thanks in advance for your response.  Please explain saved by grace unto good works.  I thank God for you.

            In Christian love,

            Ervin

 

Answer:  Dear Ervin,

            I don’t know how within the brief time I have for questions I can do justice to your question.  “Grace unto works”—the phrase you use is probably derived from Ephesians 2:8-10.  The passage explains that we are NOT saved BY works, but it explains that we ARE saved FOR works.

            That is, having been saved, God produces works in us.  He saves us for that purpose.  He uses us, having already saved us by his grace.  To be lights of his kingdom.  To point the way to Christ—to reflect the light of Christ.  We do not produce these works—we do not have the power to do so.  God, by his grace, not only saves us, but by his grace produces works in us, as we yield to him, that will help others as they see what he does in and through us.

            If you use the feature “Search our Site” here at www.ptm.org, you can type in words like “grace” and be presented with scores of questions and answers, articles and other resources that will give you background and understanding in this central belief of Christianity.  If, after having done so, you have other specific questions about grace, please let me know.

            Thanks for this opportunity to serve you.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht