On this Sunday on which we remember those who have given themselves serving our country and also remember people from our families and church family that have gone to their eternal home it is also a time in which we may be reminded of the turning point in the life of a man whom God used to bring renewal to the church. It was on May 24, 269 years ago that John Wesley trusted Jesus Christ alone for his salvation. Wesley had been in search for the means of his salvation for many years. He did so by noble means, but found out these good works were not the solution to his dilemma.

Wesley practiced Holy Living, as best he knew how. He cared for poor needy children, he visited prisoners, engaged in mission work, etc. He even wrote in his journal, "I went to America to convert the Indians, but who shall convert me." It seems that John Wesley tried what many have tried, to gain their salvation through good works. Many non-Christian religions and cults teach this, but perhaps a more serious problem is that many think this is the teaching of Christianity. The Bible teaches, however, that we are saved by grace through faith. After John Wesley felt that he did trust Christ alone for his salvation the text I have chosen for this morning became one of his favorites.

These two truths come from these verses today.
I. Salvation is received by accepting God's grace
II. Salvation results in good works to God's glory

I. Salvation is received by accepting God's grace

After the Fall of Adam we find that all of humankind was lost in sin. All fall short of the glory of God. In Ephesians 2:1 Paul spoke of being dead through the sins we were living in, by doing what comes naturally, following the course of this world, following Satan who is the prince of power of the air at work in the sons of disobedience.

In verse 5 as Paul was writing about being made alive together with Christ, he interjected, "by grace you have been saved." At that time Paul did not elaborate on this statement. However, in verse 8 Paul returns to the statement and elaborates on it. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God." We have not earned our salvation and could never do so. It is the gift of God and we need to accept this gift in faith. Because God Himself is perfection there is no way apart from accepting the free gift of salvation that we can satisfy God's perfection. In Isaiah 64:6 we are told that in God's eyes are righteousness is compared to filthy rags. Apart from Christ's gift, as finite sinful men and women there is nothing we can ever do to earn or win the approval of our God of infinite goodness. With our sin nature we cannot bring perfection to God. To gain God's approval we must accept Jesus Christ by faith as the means of our salvation.

There is also another sense in which we fail to meet God's standards. Sin is a crime, not only against a law, but also against the love of God. It may be possible to make atonement for a broken law, but it is impossible to make atonement for a broken heart. Suppose we break a law. Can pay the penalty, the fine or do the time of imprisonment. After that the law has no further claim on us.

However, suppose we break someone's heart. We cannot atone for that. Let me suggest an imperfect analogy. Suppose a careless driver kills a child. The driver is arrested, tried, found guilty, sentenced. Then the person serves his prison term and pays the fine and the law has no more claim on the careless driver. What about the driver's relationship with the child's parents. He cannot make thing right by doing time and paying a fine. The only way to restore his relationship to the parents is by their act of free forgiveness. A few weeks ago a Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie based on a true story of a man whose wife and daughter were killed in an accident caused by a young man racing was shown on television.

My friends, we too have sinned against God's heart, not just the law. Only God's act of free forgiveness can put us back in right relationship with God. So we can never earn God's salvation. We can only accept it in faith and trust.

If all the good works in the world cannot put us right with God, does that mean that good works are not important. NO!

II. Salvation results in good works to God's glory

Salvation is very clearly NOT the result of the good works we do because we cannot earn our salvation. However, after we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, our salvation should result in good works to the glory of God.

Several years ago someone showed me a devotional reading entitled, "Putting the Cart Before the Horse." The thrust of the devotional was that some people try to earn their salvation by their good works. We cannot do this any more than a cart can pull a horse.

However, after we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ we should do good works to the glory of God. There is something radically wrong with Christianity that does not bring forth good works. We read in verse 10, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. We might consider this along with II Corinthians 5:17 where we read, "In Christ we are a new creation." Since we are created to do good works there is no room for boasting. God has also prearranged good works for us to do. We are to live our lives with Godly, Holy conduct that is appropriate to our new nature in Christ.

John Wesley did not cease to do good works after he accepted God's free gift of salvation and finally felt that he did trust Christ alone for his salvation. He dedicated his life to preaching salvation through faith, knowing that good works would follow when people really accepted God's gift of salvation. So my friends I ask this morning, Have you really accepted God's gift of salvation by faith?

It is a present salvation because of what Christ has done for us. It has results for today and for the future. Our salvation does not depend upon being good enough. If you have accepted God's gift of salvation by faith, how are you showing your gratitude by good works? Remember Jesus said, "By their fruit you shall know them." Matthew 7:16. This weekend we may remember men and women who have served our country to preserve freedom. We also remember special women and men who have touched our lives and lived out the Christian faith for us.

God's love places upon us the obligation to do the good works for which He has created us. We cannot earn God's love, but we must show that we are grateful for it by seeking with our whole hearts to lives the kind of life that will bring joy to the heart of God.

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