8For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — 9not from works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
16and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.
Galatians 2:16-18
1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about — but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. 4Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed.
Romans 4:1-4
Salvation, Grace, Justification and Righteousness is by Faith Alone
The only requirement for Salvation, Grace, Justification and Righteousness is to Hear & Follow Jesus.
No amount of attending church.
No amount of leading in church.
No amount of success.
No amount of looking good.
No amount of making top 100 lists.
Nothing will bring Salvation, Grace, Justification and Righteousness.
Salvation comes when our soul is made alive because Jesus’ sacrifice wiped our sin clean and the Spirit comes into us to flood us with the Abundant Life God created us to have flowing through our soul.
Grace is God’s abundance in our abundant need. We could never save ourself. Our soul was in abundant need. And he gave from his abundant resources to make us right with him.
Justification is God declaring us righteous. This one is so cool! When we Hear & Follow Jesus because we recognize he is the Source of Life, God looks at us and declares, “They are righteous.” You become righteous despite your past…no matter what you do in your present…or what happens in your future.
Righteousness is God’s right way of living. At salvation, God downloads all of Jesus’ righteousness onto your life. No matter how much unrighteousness you may have accomplished, God forgives the debt and credits your soul bank account with all of Jesus’ perfectly right living.
Leaders are used to forging their own way. God gives us the Foundation of Jesus with the mixture of Salvation, Grace, Justification and Righteousness. This mixture will give us the solid Foundation we need to withstand everything life throws our way.
Faith Is Trusting in God’s Artistry
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Galatians 2:19-21
5But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Romans 4:5
We are God’s artistry.
However God has created you is like him putting a pot on a spinner’s wheel. He shapes, molds and grows you into the image he wants of you.
Faith is Hearing & Following Jesus into his artistry.
The Foundation God gives and the strength he gives to the Pillars of our life through the Life inside our soul is how we walk in the good work he’s created for us.
The first good work he created for us is his righteousness. Already covered above, but his righteousness is deposited into our soul account to use in our daily life. The more we Hear & Follow Jesus First, Before anything else, the more we tap into this bank account.
Then, our good work he created us for is his vision, purpose and mission for our lives. This will be an ongoing discovery as we Hear & Follow Jesus. We’ll also discover he’s continually tinkering and molding us into who he wants us to be to accomplish what he wants for his Kingdom.
Faith is taking the Talents God gives and doubling down on them. Growing his gifts in us is an act of Faith. Using his gifts in a career or acts of service is an act of Faith.
The more we Hear & Follow Jesus, the more we live as he would live if he were in our shoes. Why? Because he literally lives through our life as if he were in our shoes!
God gives us the Foundation.
God builds the structure through Hope, Joy, Peace, Love and Faith.
God uses the artistry of the structure of your life to advance his Kingdom into the lives of others.
We Hear & Follow by Faith alone to see what God wants to do with a life completely given over to him.
The goal is to lead you to engage with God’s Word so you can Hear & Follow Jesus in the everyday…especially in your leadership. Sign up for daily emails HERE so you can have the content delivered directly to you. You’ll receive a 1-minute email read with a link to a 5-minute blog read each day.