"Heigh-Ho" 10-23-22
Overview
Saved by Grace, Created for Good Works
Ephesians 2:8–9 speaks with crystal clarity: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Six times in two short verses, Paul presses home the same truth—we contribute nothing to our own salvation. It is by grace (the undeserved love of God), through faith (the hand that grasps the victory of the cross and empty tomb), not our own doing (for God will not share His glory), the gift of God (the very faith that saves is given to us, as Jesus reminds us in John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you"), not the result of works (for as Isaiah 64:6 says, even our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth), and finally—so that no one may boast. These verses are worth committing to memory.
But salvation by grace alone does not leave works behind. The very next verse declares, "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" Ephesians 2:10. Notice the order: God first makes us new through Word and Sacrament, claiming us in baptism and washing us in the cross of Christ. Then, as His new creation, we are sent out into good works—not to earn anything, but as the natural expression of the faith He has placed within us. Paul echoes this in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (Scripture equips the believer "for every good work") and Titus 2:14 (Christ purifies for Himself a people "zealous for good works"). Jesus Himself says in John 10:25 that His works testify to who He is. As Luther put it, faith is an active and busy thing—where there is true faith, works inevitably follow.
This is what it means to be salt and light. Because Christ has made us pure in heart, we live with the singular focus of bringing Him glory. Because He has given us His Word, we speak it into a world full of empty words. Because we have received mercy, we extend mercy. We pray for the welfare of the city Jeremiah 29:7 and often discover that God privileges us to be the answer to the very prayer we are praying. Works, then, are simply what we do to bring glory to God and to bless others—prepared beforehand by God to be our way of life.
Our true citizenship, of course, is in heaven Philippians 3:20. One day the Lord will call us home. But until that day, dear church, it's off to work we go—joyful work, fulfilling work, sometimes hard work, but always the overflow of grateful hearts that have been redeemed by the good work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Transcript
Welcome to the second chapter. 3s
We are going to find the second chapter of Ephesians on page 170. 9s
We conclude today this sermon series, Salt and Light and what a joy. 20s
For choir and children to join together in lifting up that metaphor that God gives to us. 25s
Because it is more than a metaphor that the Lord Jesus Christ highlights, 33s
but it is actual reality in the life of the church and our lives and what a joy 38s
to have that musically lifted up as we conclude this series today. 44s
That was the year when the film was released. 54s
It was historic. 59s
It was the first animated motion picture that was ever released, 61s
produced by a fellow by the name of Walt Disney. 68s
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 74s
Disney had a fight really, really hard for that movie to be made. 84s
His business partner, his brother, said, 90s
Well, I just don't think this is a good idea. 93s
And then at night he would go home and his wife would say, 95s
Well, I don't think this is a good idea. 98s
Disney wound up mortgaging his home because he believed in this so much to help pay 102s
for the costs that were being incurred in putting together this animated film. 108s
Snow White, of course, gets the top billing. 118s
Let right along Snow White are the Seven Dwarfs. 122s
The Seven Dwarfs worked every single day in the mind, 128s
digging for diamonds and rubies. 132s
And they sing as a part of the movie. 135s
They sing as a part of the movie. 138s
We don't understand what we're doing, but we dig, dig, dig, dig, dig, dig. 140s
And dig, they would. 145s
But the popular song, in fact, one can argue the most popular song from that movie. 149s
Was their song of joy? 156s
Their song of joy when they would head off and go to work. 159s
And with a spring in their step, they would head to the minds and they would sing, 166s
Hiho! Hiho! 172s
It's off to work. 175s
We go. 178s
Hiho! 180s
Hiho! 183s
Come to think of it. 186s
That's probably not a bad lyric for us as the church. 189s
You think? 196s
In the congregation that my parents are a part of, in the state of Washington, on the front of the sanctuary, 199s
written quite large so that cars going by can read it. 205s
It says Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 to 9. 209s
These are such important verses. 214s
So very important. 218s
In fact, these are the verses that I hope you'll just commit to memory. 219s
They are so glorious and so beautiful, because they focus on the fact that there is nothing that we contribute to our own salvation. 223s
There are no amount of works that we do that can result in us saving of ourselves. 235s
In fact, in those two little verses, Paul gives six specific reasons why there's nothing that we contribute to our own salvation. 245s
So let's run through them. 260s
Shall we? 261s
Verse 8. 262s
Here's the first reason. 262s
For by grace you have been saved. 264s
First reason why we contribute nothing to our own salvation is because it's all by grace. 269s
Grace is the undeserved love of God. 274s
If we contributed something to it, then grace wouldn't be grace. 278s
What it? 283s
Here's number two. 285s
Faith is the hand that grasps the victory of the cross in the empty tomb. 288s
Number three. 296s
And this is not your own doing. 298s
God will not share his glory with anyone. 302s
Number four, it is the gift of God. 309s
What's being talked about here? 314s
It is that faith that God gives to us. 318s
Remember what Jesus says in John 15, our Lord says, 321s
You did not choose me. 324s
I chose you. 327s
And that's exactly what he does. 331s
As he brings us to faith. 332s
As he claims us and the waters of baptism. 334s
As he washes us in the victory of the cross and the empty tomb. 336s
He goes on. 342s
Not the result of works. 344s
Isaiah 64 says, all of our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. 349s
In other words, all of the deeds that we do that we think will somehow work ourselves into God's good 357s
graces for life eternal. 364s
All of that, it's described as a filthy cloth. 367s
And the sixth reason why we contribute nothing to our own salvation, 372s
so that no one may boast. 381s
So that we don't say, why? 386s
Look at what I have done to earn God's grace. 389s
Can it be any clearer than that? 398s
Can God speak in any clearer crystal tones of clarity than he speaks right here? 407s
We are saved by the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross 419s
when our sins were at tone four, when the sin that was paid. 426s
We are saved by the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ and not our works. 431s
We contribute nothing to our salvation. 440s
But that doesn't mean that works are forgotten. 452s
In fact, Paul has some very instructive words with regard to works. 457s
Look at me, please, at verse 10. 466s
Right after he says, we're not saved by what we do. 470s
Right after he says, you're saved by grace to faith. 473s
It's not your own doing. 476s
It's the gift of God right after that. 477s
He says, verse 10, for we are what he's made us created in Christ Jesus, 480s
for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. 487s
Now let's break this down. 495s
We are what he's made us. 498s
What does he made us? 501s
Well, he's made us into believers. 503s
Through word and sacrament, he has birthed faith in us, 506s
absolutely his gift. 510s
We contribute nothing to that. 511s
He has made us believers. 512s
He has changed us. 516s
We are a, as the Scripture says, a new creation. 518s
The Scripture says, we are what he's made us. 522s
And then it says, created in Christ Jesus, for good works. 526s
Now remember, this is coming right after the verses that say, 531s
that we contribute nothing to our salvation. 535s
It's not the works that we do. 537s
It is God's doing. 539s
For goodness of sins through cross of Christ, 541s
the tomb is empty. 545s
It is all God's doing. 546s
And then right after that, he says, now, you who have been freed 548s
because of the actions of the Lord Jesus Christ, 553s
you've been created for what, for good works, 557s
to redeem ourselves? 560s
No way. 562s
We have been redeemed, no, as an expression of the faith that is in us. 564s
For we are what he's made us, created in Christ Jesus, 574s
for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. 578s
It's God's master plan. 585s
God's master plan that his redeemed people will be a people of works 587s
to redeem themselves. 595s
Now, as an expression of gratitude to the one who has redeemed us, 598s
it's the plan. 608s
The plan scripture says prepared beforehand to be our way of life. 610s
The Apostle Paul. 618s
In second Timothy, the third chapter, he writes this. 619s
All scripture is inspired by God, remember that word means ex-hailed. 623s
All scripture is ex-hailed by God, and is useful for teaching, 629s
for proof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 634s
So that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient. 640s
Here it comes. 646s
Equipped for every good work. 648s
Notice the order. 653s
Once again, everyone who belongs to God, 654s
you already belong to him. 657s
He's already claimed us in the waters of baptism. 658s
Everyone who belongs to God may be what? 661s
Proficient equipped for what? 664s
Good works. 668s
Good works. 669s
He writes in Titus the second chapter. 671s
He is who gave himself for us, 675s
that he might redeem us from all the equity, 677s
and purify for himself a people of his own who are, 681s
and here it comes, 686s
zealous for good works. 688s
Zealous for good works. 694s
Consider Jesus. 697s
Recorded in John the 10th chapter. 699s
Jesus says, the works that I do in my father's name, 701s
testify to me. 707s
So the works don't redeem us. 712s
The works are expression of us who have been redeemed. 715s
So what our works? 719s
Works is that which we do to bring glory to God, 722s
and to bless others. 728s
That which we do to bring glory to God, 732s
and bless others. 736s
We were created for this. 739s
We have been made for this. 742s
This is God's plan for us. 743s
Look again at verse 10. 746s
For we are what he has made us created in Christ. 748s
Jesus, for good works, 753s
which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. 756s
And our response. 768s
It was first, 16. 774s
Disney said, I want 16 dwarfs. 778s
Well, I guess nine of them didn't make the audition, 783s
or what of them. 786s
But Disney winds up with seven, seven dwarfs in the film. 787s
You know, right? 793s
There's dock. 796s
He was kind of the leader of the pack in a way. 797s
But the other dwarfs would always kind of have to remind him where he was, 801s
because he would kind of get a little lost a lot of the times. 805s
There was bashful. 811s
Oh, bashful. 813s
Had a crush on Snow White, didn't he? 814s
He was so, so very shy. 817s
There was Sneezy. 821s
Sees is the type that you would want to give a bottle of Clareton too, right? 825s
Struggling with those allergies. 830s
There was, there was happy, 832s
and happy just lived his name. 834s
He was just happy. 837s
There was grumpy, 841s
kind of a contangra sort, kind of cranky, 844s
but deep down he was a good guy. 848s
There was sleepy. 854s
Sleepy always in need of a nap, right? 855s
There was never a time when sleepy wasn't drowsy. 858s
Always in need of a nap. 863s
And then there was lastly. 865s
And arguably, the most popular of the seven dwarfs. 867s
The most popular one, 872s
Dopey. 876s
Dopey. 877s
Trivia. 878s
Dopey was the only dwarf never to speak. 880s
Never to speak. 887s
When you consider those seven dwarfs, 890s
they were all so different, weren't they? 892s
Each and every one of them, unique. 897s
Just so different. 900s
But there was a bond there among them, 901s
and the bond. 908s
I'm going to say all of their differences, 910s
and I'm going to say all of their uniqueness, the bond. 912s
Was there work? 918s
There work. 921s
I hope, I hope it's off to work. 924s
We go. 932s
Verse 10. 938s
For we are, what is made us, 942s
created in Christ Jesus, 946s
for good works, 949s
which God prepared beforehand 953s
to be our way of life. 955s
there will be works. 965s
Faith is an active and a busy thing, Luther said. 971s
Where there is faith, it's impossible 975s
that there won't be works. 979s
Because faith just expresses itself in works. 983s
Jesus says, 993s
you are the salt and the light. 995s
You are salt and you are light 1000s
and off to work. 1003s
We go. 1008s
Jesus tells us that we are pure in heart, 1011s
because He's made us pure in heart. 1013s
The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us. 1016s
We are forgiven. 1019s
We are made white as the driven snow. 1020s
The scripture says, 1023s
our sin is cast as far as the east is from the west. 1024s
We are made pure through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ 1028s
and the sacrifice on the cross. 1032s
We are made pure, 1036s
and we are pure in heart, 1037s
because God has given us a singular focus. 1039s
The singular focus, 1042s
which is to bring glory to God Almighty. 1044s
For as long as He gives us breath this side of heaven 1048s
to bring Him glory in Word and indeed, 1052s
and it's off to work we go. 1056s
We are people who are given the Word instead. 1062s
The world has all of the further moors, 1067s
all of the words and the ways of the world, 1069s
but God comes to empower that Word instead 1072s
and sends us forth to be a different and a holy people, 1076s
amidst a dark world, 1080s
and it's off to work we go. 1082s
We are a merciful people, 1088s
because God makes us merciful. 1091s
Merciful even to those people, 1096s
realizing that we're all those people. 1100s
Because sin is all around us and in us. 1105s
But because we have experienced the mercy of God 1111s
Almighty through the Lord Jesus Christ, 1114s
we are sent out then to be a merciful people 1116s
to show mercy in a world where mercy can be so absent, 1121s
and it's off to work we go. 1128s
We are people who pray for the welfare of the city. 1133s
Pray for the welfare of the city, 1138s
the good of the cities of which we are a part of. 1140s
We pray for that and what is it that we discover 1145s
but that oftentimes God privileges us with the ability 1147s
to be the answer to the very prayer that we're praying 1152s
and it's off to work we go. 1156s
We are called and empowered to hold fast 1161s
to the truth of God's infallible and an parent's word. 1163s
To hold it fast and it's off to work we go. 1169s
We are saved not by our good works. 1178s
We are saved by the good work of the Lord Jesus Christ 1181s
on the cross and it's off to work. 1185s
We go because the world needs the world needs the God-birthed, 1191s
Holy Spirit-generated faith-expressing works 1200s
and it's off to work. 1206s
We go. 1213s
We go. 1215s
You know it's interesting those dwarfs. 1219s
When they were done with their work in the mind, 1223s
when they would go home, 1228s
you ever noticed that the lyric changes. 1230s
The lyric changes from high-ho, high-ho, 1234s
it's off to work we go. 1237s
From off to work we go to home. 1247s
We go. 1255s
Paul writes in Philippians 3, 1258s
but our citizenship our homeland is in heaven. 1262s
That's our home. 1269s
This isn't home. 1272s
Heaven's home. 1275s
And the day's going to come if the Lord continues to carry 1278s
when God will say to each one of us, 1282s
it's time to come home. 1286s
It's time to come home. 1289s
And off to home we'll go. 1292s
But in the meantime, in the meantime, 1301s
church it's off to work we go. 1309s
It's off to work we go. 1315s
That's a joyous work. 1320s
That's a happy work. 1323s
That's a fulfilling work. 1326s
Can it be a hard work you bet it can? 1330s
But it's a joyous work 1335s
to which we are to go as long as he gives us breath 1338s
this side of heaven. 1345s
And to that church, I say, 1349s
Hi, ho! 1355s
Hi, ho! 1358s
It's off to work. 1360s
We go. 1365s