Monday, March 19, 2012

Reflection: By ... Through ... For (Mach 18, 2012)

4th Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21


There's a saying attributed to Winston Churchill that speaks to the common, but grammatically incorrect, use of prepositions at the end of sentences. It supposedly came in response to an editor changing something that Churchill wrote that made use of a preposition in this popular way. "This is the sort of English up with which I will not put," was Winston's witty and pointed comment. Grammar aside, prepositions play an important role in having a correct theological understanding of God's saving work. Worse than a preposition ending a sentence, getting the prepositions found in Ephesians 2:8-10 out of order can have some very negative spiritual consequences.

The proper order of the prepositions that describe our salvation is "by, through, for." In brief, the sequence of Ephesians 2:8-10 is that we are saved by God's grace, through the faith He gives to us, for the works He's prepared for us. "By grace" makes it clear that God's grace, not the work that we do nor the faith that we have, is the active agent in our salvation. "Through faith" shows us that faith, not works, is the means by which we receive God's grace and all that He has done for us. These two prepositions under gird the foundational truths which we hold so dear: Salvation by grace alone and justification through faith alone. So far, so good. But we're often satisfied with keeping these first two prepositions straight without given much thought to the third one.

"For good works" summarizes God's purpose for us in this world after we have been saved. It reminds us that we Christians are meant to be of earthly good. "We are His workmanship." God has crafted and called each one of us for the very works that He planned for us from the beginning. The things we own, the time we have, the skills and passions that we possess, and the circumstances in which we live are all meant to be used in various ways to display the glory of God in our lives. Luther put it this way, "God is the Poet, and we are the verses or songs He writes."

Works can't save us (we're saved by grace, through faith!), but our lives with Christ are not complete if we neglect the works for which we were crafted. The works prepared by Him and enabled in us through His Spirit are meant for His glory — and for our joy.

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