Would you open your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 2?

We're going to look at 2 verses, 8 and 9.

I'll read 8, you read 9.

This will be a very short reading.

It says in verse 8, for by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves,

it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Oh, I read right through it, didn't I?

That is a small nine.

You may be seated.

You know, I tried my best on Wednesday night to have you guys read along with me and I blew that too, but...

So today we're looking at a message entitled,

You either have it or you don't. And of course we're talking about

salvation, specifically because there is much confusion about the

relationship between faith and works. We will examine how a person is saved and if there is anything necessary to keep it.

On the top of salvation I would like to put forth, you either have it or you don't.

Salvation isn't bought, earned, or kept. Works don't earn or keep

salvation. Works are the response to being saved. Martin Luther said,

God our father has made all things depend on faith

so that whoever has faith will have everything

and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.

I've heard much confusion from people who think once they're born again

somehow their good works keep them saved and I want to dispel that idea.

...