Saved by Grace, Not Works

The memory for this week is one of the passages that Lutherans treasure because it summarizes much of the changes that Martin Luther worked to demonstrate. Early in his life most people had a feeling that they needed to do enough good things in their life to make God happy. They imagined that God had scales and would measure out the good and the evil deeds - those with too much evil would go to hell, but those with a lot of good works could be punished until they could finally enter heaven. Martin Luther, himself, was very afraid that he was not measuring up to God's standards. These words were very encouraging to him:

Ephesians 2:8-10New International Version (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are saved only by the good that God does, but he allows us to do good, as well, Those good things do not earn heaven for us, but they help show our thankfulness for all he does for us!