Main text: Eph 2:8-10
While salvation is strictly and solely based on receiving the invisible gift of salvation, real, saving faith is shown by visible works (what you do, how you live).
Eph 2
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Salvation by An Invisible Gift of Faith
Eph 2
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Rom 3
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
Gal 2
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Real Faith Shown Through Visible Works
Matt 5
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good WORKS and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
James 1
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 2
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
James 2
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Works = Doing the Will of God (Visible Obedience)
1 John 2 (Universal will vs Specific will of God]
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Matt 7 [Specific will of God]
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Luke 9 [Specific will of God]
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Heb 10 [Specific will of God]
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Snapshots of Faith
James 2 [Specific will of God]
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Heb 11 [Specific will of God]
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Heb 11 [Specific will of God]
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
General will of God is in Scripture
How do you know the specific will of God?
Get to know Jesus and become familiar with the voice of your shepherd
Heard him at salvation
Heard him when he called me to a be a pastor in 1996 – the result – I got ordained in 2011
Heard him in 1998 when he told me date Jackie for marriage – the result – strong marriage 28 years later
Heard him when he told me to homeschool our boys – God’s promise that He would take care of everything – the result?
Heard him when he told us to move various times as a church planter – the result – we met good people at every new location
Heard him when he told us you’ve been faithful, wrap it up – the result – TBD
Now it’s your turn – put your faith in Jesus which you received as a gift
And obey the general will of God while you wait for the specific will of God
Conclusion
Eph 2
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
While salvation is strictly and solely based on receiving the invisible gift of salvation, real, saving faith is shown by visible works (what you do, how you live).