For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)Then I asked her, “What do those verse say about how we are saved?” She replied, “By doing good works.” I did not expect that. It seemed so plain to me.
As the years went by, God showed me that unless the Holy Spirit reveals the truth about Him, sin keeps our minds from seeing it, never mind being interested in it or wanting to know it. The Christian life can be faked or imitated to some degree, but there is no change of heart and life without a genuine encounter with the living Lord Jesus Christ and enlightenment from His Spirit.
This morning I notice again the difference in the disciples when Jesus came to them, and when He gave them the Holy Spirit. Whether they saw it for themselves or believed without that physical encounter, they were never the same. They now understood Him and were empowered to serve Him:
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:19–31)The last few lines tell readers that this message was to bring them to faith and new life in Christ. John knew that the Word of God-written would be powerful in bringing people to the Word of God-living. Some may need to see Jesus but even if they did, the Holy Spirit made the difference.
The person who read those two verses from Ephesians was blind to them because the Holy Spirit did not give her eyes to see, at least not then. She went away and I don’t know what happened to her after that. Perhaps the Spirit brought back the truth to her later. But I do know that without the Spirit’s power to open hearts, I would not believe either and be stuck in working for my salvation and even boasting about my efforts.
PRAY: Oh Jesus, sin has been the source of so many foolish choices and actions in my life. Anything good that I could ever do comes from You; Your ideas, Your heart, Your enablement. You give faith and light so I can trust You and so I can see Your ways and know who You are and what You do. Thank You for changing my heart and opening my eyes. You are an amazing Savior and my beloved Lord God.
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