# Saved through grace not works

Category: Grace
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: June 7, 2024

It’s a privilege telling you how God changed my life.

So both my parents were abused. They came from abused homes, and they got married to escape their abused homes, and they didn’t know how to care for each other. So they fought, and they divorced at an early time. We just moved around. We went to trailer parks and apartments and all that.

There was a short period of time when my mom was trying to get back on her feet. I lived with my aunt and uncle for a year. She took me to a Friday night activity at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, James Kennedy.

On that Friday night activity, they were hardcore. They told you about this man who loves you so much that he was willing to go through all this abuse and all this pain and all this trouble. He got nailed to a couple of boards, then he died, and on the third day, he rose again. He declared himself to be God, and you are the reason he did it because you’re a liar, you’re a thief, and I was.

He said a whole bunch of other things, short of saying that I wasn’t good looking, which at the time I wasn’t. I thought, I’m under the penalty, and I want to know this man. This man loved me so much. I want him to love me.

Then they said, now, if you want to be saved, you just stay right here. But if you’re not really worried about hearing anymore, go line up because everyone’s going to go play games. It was a massive VBS, and you could hear everybody going out to play their games. There were four people left. I’ll never forget it—every molecule frozen, every chair, those fold-out chairs, those uncomfortable chairs. Oh, it was uncomfortable. My brother, a male, was competing, like, let’s go get first in line. And I said, I cannot move from this chair. I have to know this man.

So I bowed my head, and I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save me.

The next day, because you lived off of lies, my aunt asked who ate the cereal. I said, I didn’t do it. It was the worst lie of my life. The worst. I could not understand that. I never forgot that because years later, I found out that God comes and lives inside of you, but I didn’t know that at the time.

So we move on. I live my trailer park life, go back, live with my mom, and keep moving around. I’m in high school. I remember there was this girl. She had these beautiful hands, and she sat next to me. I wanted to get to know her a little bit more. So I said, what kind of groups do you listen to? She said, you know. And I named all of my rock groups. She didn’t know any of them. I felt ashamed when I kept pressing her. How did you not know? Did you see a Time Life commercial? Have you heard of the Beatles? She didn’t know any of it. I said, what do you listen to? She said, gospel music. I’d never even heard the word gospel.

Well, my mom kicked me out of the house before I graduated; we couldn’t get along. I remember there was this girl who didn’t know all my rock groups, and she knew gospel. I wanted to find out what that was. So I hunted her down and started going to church with this girl. And just so happened that she is now my wife of 28 honeymoons.

We lived, and she got the beta release of a husband, all right? The beta release, the alpha release. She didn’t get a full release of the software until years later. But we got into children’s ministry. We did bus ministry for 18 years. We’ve done Awana’s, which is like Master Clubs, I guess, for 17 years. We did all these things. And we decided we needed to move to a place where there was 3D. So we moved from Florida to Tennessee.

We came to Tennessee and have been doing bus ministry. But when COVID happened, we were like, you know what? What’s happening with the small churches? God kept pressing on our hearts: What’s going to happen with the small churches?

I remembered a three-fingered man who came to visit me one day. I remember having the best conversation with him on our stairwell. He asked me, “Are you a pastor?” I said, “No, I’m a sandwich short of a picnic. I’m just in the bus ministry.” But the reason we found him was because Marlene and Greg both had come to visit.

Well, we came to visit. There was hardly anyone here, but Stacy and Marlin swallowed us up with some wonderful smiles and hugs during COVID, and Brother Frank—by the way, Brother Frank is here—and the nicest pastor’s wife in the world, Miss Tammy. Are you kidding me? She is amazing.

And so we remembered. Then every one of you started coming, and you were like, “Who are you? How did you get in the door?” I think Jim, Jim and—how did you get in the door? I’m a hacker. I’m a computer hacker. Came in through the back door. And you guys fell in love with us, we fell in love with you, and this morning I counted 37 empty parking spaces. I’m going to go and invite everyone I can to tell them about my Creator, who is now my God, who also adopted me as my Father, and I want to invite them to a bunch of friendly people. I cannot wait to fill this church because we’ve got a great under-shepherd, we’ve got a great church. And that’s my testimony, so thanks.

Turn your Bibles, if you would, to Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians chapter 2 in God’s Word this morning.

By the way, I think we’ll mention a little bit more tonight, but praise the Lord for a ton of great people that did a great job at Vacation Bible School. Several were saved. We haven’t really said a number because it’s just hard sometimes to tell, but several were saved, and praise the Lord for that. I appreciate all the workers just doing a wonderful job. It just seemed like more this year than ever. I just enjoy it, I think more than anything, watching our people serve. I just love that and just seeing people serve all over the place. And that’s just wonderful. You did a great job, and all of you, and I appreciate it very, very much. It was a blessing.

Ephesians chapter 2 in God’s Word. And aren’t you glad we have the Bible? Amen. I mean, I don’t have to wonder, question, or debate if I did the right thing or said the right thing. I know it said the right thing because it is the Bible, amen. That’s just wonderful to have somewhere and something to stand on. It doesn’t matter how the world is changing what they are saying or doing. I can stand on that, and I’m in the right place, and praise the Lord for that.

By the way, it’s for the most part just our folks this morning. I’m always going to stand for the truth. That’s how to be wise about how I’ll stand. But can’t I just say this this morning? I’m glad we have a King James Bible that doesn’t change. And that doesn’t change. Somebody said, “Well, language has changed.” Praise God, the Bible doesn’t change. And probably all the more importance to keep something that doesn’t change, amen. And by the way, it does change. It declines. It degenerates. I’m glad I have something that doesn’t decline, amen. Doesn’t change with the times. It stays the same.

And that’s already two sermons, folks. We haven’t even gotten to it. I mean, so we’re going to have to take three offerings before the day is out for sure. And I’m teasing, of course. But would you please stand as we read God’s Word together? Would you do that? Ephesians 2. And very familiar verses, Ephesians 2.

And my wife’s saying my earring is not right. I don’t know what the deal is. She’s looking at what’s wrong in my ear here. Is it not all right? Is my earring not all right, folks? My hair? Is it my hair? You got to pay attention to your wife now. Come on now. She keeps you right, you know. Now she’s made me to know my daughter. She said she told me to tell you, we better get to preaching. I’ll tell you for sure, folks. I’ll tell you what, that’s for sure. They got me curious, what in the world they are talking about? No, I don’t know. I just would you worry about it later on. How about that?

Ephesians 2 and verse number 8, very familiar passage. I believe the Lord wants us to go there and down to verse number 10. Ephesians 2:8, excuse me. Here we go. The Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Would you pray and ask the Lord to speak to your heart as I ask the same? Father, Lord, it’s been good already to be in your house, and I’ve enjoyed it. Thank you for it. But, Lord, we come to the time where the preaching of your Word, you said you’ve chosen that. So, Lord, you used the preaching this morning to feed and to help and to nourish and give your people what they need. Lord, help me to say everything you want said. Lord, maybe a little phrase that could be said to help somebody, help me say that phrase. Lord, help me not to ramble when you don’t want me to. Help me focus on what you want, because, Lord, in the end, we know it’ll be you that does the work. Would you do so, please? In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.

I want you to notice how God—not the preacher, but God—that really puts grace and works on opposite ends. Verse number 8 right there, many of you know it by heart, I’m sure. But it says, “For by grace,” and it goes on talking about your salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” Then that next verse, verse number 9, so it’s kind of got grace over here, if you will, and it’s tabbed. That’s how you’re saved: by grace through faith.

Then over here in verse number 9, he puts that odds with grace, or opposing, on the opposite side: works. He says right there, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” If it was some good work or deed you did, you would have the right, if you will, to boast or brag about that. God sets those two on the opposite side.

By the way, in America, we have a great battle over that right there. It is really, honestly, probably the biggest—and I know that’s a little bit in our day and time, you’re like, “Whoa”—but eternally, it’s probably the biggest battle you and I face right now. Because the average church in America is not making clear: you go to heaven without any works; you go to heaven by grace alone.

Let me try to get a couple volunteers here. I’m hoping since I gave out $20 last time, I might help out get volunteers here. It’ll be different. I’m not going to give you $20, okay? I’m telling you up front today. We’re not doing that. My wife got on to me about that also. No, she did. I’m joking with her. She did not do that. But can I get two teenage young men this morning? Brother Anthony’s—oh, we got Jonah. Jonah, come on up. Jonah, come on up. Brayden, come on up. Brayden and Jonah. Jonah just graduated high school, but he’s still a teenager. How old are you, Jonah? Seventeen. Seventeen. Seventeen, so he’s still a teenager.

Now, his brother, Gregory, he tried to trump me. I gave a $20 bill out, and then when he was shaking my hand, he told me about a preacher that gave him a $100 bill one time. Can you believe that? He gave him $40 something. But anyway, he gave him $100 back. And here’s the thing, here’s the thing. And of course, Brayden here. Brayden’s been riding a church bus here for about ever. Praise the Lord for that family. And they’re a blessing. They’re awesome, both of them.

Now, you’re going to have to sell these, all right? Would you rather—we’ll give you your pick since you’re younger. Would you rather sell Skittles or M&Ms? Skittles. He’d rather sell Skittles, okay? He got stuck with M&Ms. Now, here’s the thing: one of y’all is going to end up with one bag of candy, but one guy’s going to end up with nothing. It’s the guy that doesn’t sell his bag. Okay?

All right. So can I get you to spread out a little bit over there, Jonah? Brayden, can you spread out a little bit over there? All right. Go a little bit. There you go. There you go. I want to put you an equal here. And I tell you what, we’re going to let Brother Dylan today be our deciding factor, okay? He looks like an evangelist. Brother Dylan, can I get you to come up, please, sir? Would you come up?

And Brother Dylan, here’s the thing today. Here’s the thing: you’re going to take one of these bags of candy. Okay, either one you want, and it’s yours. Okay, it’s your wife’s, because wives always steal the candy and eat it, you know. But whichever one you want. Now, I want you to let these men, these young men, talk to you and try to sell you on one of these pieces of candy, one of these bags of candy. Okay, so if you come on up and just let these men talk to you for a moment and help you make your decision about which bag of candy you want. Okay, Brother, whichever one you want, you make the decision. And by the way, once he takes that, if he—if it takes yours, then you automatically get the other guy’s bag of candy, and one guy goes home with nothing. All right, so that’s what it is.

So tell you what, we’ll let Jonah talk for a little bit. Jonah, you can come and talk to Brother Dylan and tell him all about your candy there, all right? Listen, you’re going to love these, okay? With whoever you want. You can put them in popcorn, apparently, or your ice cream. I don’t think Skittles go with ice cream, not just—I’m just saying, you know. M&Ms, they’re fantastic. You know, there’s nothing really wrong you can say about a good old M&M’s resealable zipper. You don’t have to put them in another bag. It’s basically the perfect candy. I don’t see anything wrong with them. Fantastic. Unbelievable. Amen. Pretty good job. Pretty good job. Amen. Amen.

Does that help you with your decision any, Brother Dylan? Did you—well, but still, you get the bag of candy. It’s all about the candy. Amen. All right. Brayden, you want to come and try to—you take that and try to sell Brother Dylan on those Skittles, okay? All right? You’re trying to—he’s going to make a decision. Okay, he’s going to make the decision. You’re trying to influence him to buy those Skittles there, all right?

Well, these are also colorful and have—you still with a Ziploc? Yes, sir. And they have more flavor. So it’s just not one, the same flavor all over again. So you can’t really get tired of them. Can you hear him, Brother Dylan? Amen. Amen. Never get tired of them. He got it. He got it. Amen. Amen. And from the looks, it looks like you get more in here than him, the other bag. Amen. Amen.

Brother Dylan, we’re going to let you make the decision. You want to say a few words about this candy or the decision or anything like that? And you make a decision which bag of candy you want, Brother Dylan. Well, they both sound pretty good. Amen. When you’re going to sit at the table and why I fish it for food if you got to eat at all. I got to make a decision on this one or this one. Yes, sir. Either bag of candy you want, just on what they’ve done, what they present. Yes, sir, based on what you would like, and if they enticed you in it all. He went out on the way up there. I was watching him. I’ve watched him. I’ve seen him all. He’s got a lot of improvement. I guess I go with him.

Okay, so you want the M&Ms? All right, all right. He’s going to take the M&Ms. He’s going to take the M&Ms. Brother Dylan, they’re yours. They’re yours. And he gets the Skittles. Jonah, you get the Skittles. Brayden, we’ll take care of you later, baby. We got you. All right, Brother Dylan, you got M&Ms too. Thank you, baby. Thank you. I appreciate it, Brother Dylan. I thought Brother Dylan would be the deciding thing. And thank you so much, Brother Dylan, for that. And Brayden, you did a great job. Brayden had some good arguments for sure. And Jonah did a great job. All of them, let’s give them another hand. Let’s give them a hand.

I’m trying to give you a visual here. Here’s the thing. Here’s the thing: I want it to stick in your head. One of those was grace and one of those was works. And when someone chooses, whether it be you or somewhere else, they can’t have both. That is what’s happening all across America. They’re trying to have both. And every person in the world will decide: Do they want grace, or do they want works?

Friend, if it’s works, if they choose works, they must be perfect because the Bible says the wages of sin—did you ever notice that over there in Romans 6:23? That’s singular: the wages of sin. James 2:10 says, if you’ve broken one of these, the least of these commandments, you’ve broken them all, friend. So if I go the way of works, friend, you’re just not going to measure up. You’re going to end up in hell. And everybody in your neighborhood is making the decision: either works or grace. The people you pass by at the grocery store, they’re making that decision. The people you go to work with and spend 8, 10 hours a day, if you’re not working online now, and you’re going to work actually, they’re making a decision whether grace or works.

Friend, grace—you’ve heard us say it before—that is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. And Christ, when he shed his blood on the cross at Calvary, he was purchasing heaven for all eternity. And those folks that say, “Hey, listen, I’ll never measure up. I’m not going to choose works. I’m going to choose grace”—they’ve got it. But here’s what’s happening: they want to choose both. And a lot of man-made religion is allowing people to pick both.

But can I show you what God says about it? Would you look over in Romans chapter 11? Romans chapter 11, if you would, please. A lot of men, a lot of preachers, unfortunately, are promoting both to go to heaven. And in doing so, they’re leading people to hell.

Look at this, Romans 11, and look in verse number 6, if you will. Romans 11 and verse number 6. Are you all with me this morning? Good deal. Look at Romans 11 and verse number 6. All right? You’re there. I still hear a couple pages turning. That’s all right. You’re finding it, amen. I can’t help it. Brother Fontaine, it takes me a while to get it, you know, my goodness. I’m teasing with him. It wasn’t.

Romans 11, look in verse number 6. And the Bible says, “And if by grace, [God’s riches at Christ’s expense, me getting something I do not deserve, unmerited favor]—how do you want to give a definition to it?—and if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” You’ll find it everywhere. You’ll find it: “Yes, believe Jesus, but get baptized.” Friend, that’s a righteous work. I was praying we’d have somebody get baptized with that, and I’m all for that, but that won’t take—that’s a work, that won’t take it to heaven. In fact, if I’m depending on that work, I’m not depending fully on Christ. So many things, you can put a whole lot of things in that category.

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work?” Friend, you can’t mix it, too, when it comes to your salvation and their salvation. The only way they’ll go to heaven forever is when they give up on their works and they start depending on Jesus, and it’s grace.

And here’s what I’m concerned about: it is so muddy in our day and time. I’m talking about it’s not clear. We came here 20 years ago to start a church and started knocking on doors, telling people about Jesus. And from doing that, you’ve learned a lot of people, maybe not even in the independent Baptist church, but in a church where they would teach salvation clearly. Twenty years later, people in those same churches, they’re not clear on it. It’s not very clear nowadays. It’s so vague. “Just do a little better, do a little better, a little better.” Friend, you’ll never get better enough to go to heaven. It’s when you stop trying and you start trusting. That’s what saves. And we must make that message clear. They’re opposing. They’re not together when it comes to salvation. Works is over here. Grace is over here. God says you cannot bring them together.

That’s why many will say to him in that day, “Hey, look at all the works I’ve done,” Matthew 7. And he’ll say, “Hey, depart from me, ye that work iniquity: I never knew you.” And so many, they’re mixing the two together. I’m burdened about that. Somebody’s got to make it crystal clear: Hey, there are two different things. You cannot bring grace and works together on salvation. They’re opposing. They don’t go together.

Now, he does bring works into it if you move down to verse number 10. Ephesians 2, look in verse—excuse me, verse number 10. He’s already dealt with salvation. You’re saved by grace through faith, verse number 8; not of works, verse number 9, unless you’re going around bragging about it and it’s been eternity bragging about it. Now verse number 10: “For we”—who’s that, say, folks?—“for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

Let me talk about my dad a little bit on Father’s Day. My dad before I was born—and I’ve heard my dad say this so many times—my dad drank, smoked, cussed, and all the rest of that. It’s just his lifestyle. That’s the world’s lifestyle. That’s what they’re going to do. Don’t get shook up about that when the world does what the world’s going to do. And he used to think, “Well, I’ll turn over a new leaf and get everything right and then I’ll get saved.” And then one day he realized God loved him just like he was—I mean drinking, smoking, all the rest of it. And boy, God got a hold of his heart in a revival service. And Dad used to say he just cried like a baby. He said, “I don’t know really what they said down to the altar.” He said, “I just knew I needed Jesus.” Probably got saved when he left the seat and came down to receive Jesus, you know, the honest truth of it all.

But here’s the thing: So he realized God loved him like he was, and it wasn’t going to be him turning over a new leaf enough to get saved. He just realized it’s Jesus. It’s grace. Now here’s the thing: Man, God saved him by his grace. He gave him that. Okay? Now when that happened, he was created in Christ Jesus. God, the Holy Spirit, moved inside of his heart. He was regenerated; he was re-geneed, if you will.

Now, here’s the thing: Before he got saved, he’d say, “I’m going to turn over a new leaf.” He tried even. He was in a horrible accident. He wrecked his Corvette, flipped it three times, end over end. And God got—and he said, “I’m going, man, I’m going to get everything right. Just let me help get back.” He’s in the hospital for a long time. He said, “Get my health back, I’ll live for you, God, and I’ll get right.” Can I be honest with you? He didn’t. And he didn’t live up to his promise to God. I think it was a step of God drawing him to him, but he kind of forgot about that.

But here’s the thing: At the end of the day, he realized, “I don’t have to get everything straightened out. God loves me like I am.” And he realized it wasn’t works; it was grace, and he accepted the grace just like he was. When he did that, God moved inside of him. Boom. He was a new creature. “All things, man, they passed away. All things became new.” It doesn’t mean you can’t sin. It was like Brother Chip said after he got saved: Man, he lied that next day. I mean, his wife told me about last week when he did it, too. No, I’m joking about that.

But here’s the thing: When he—like the next day after he got saved, he did the same things he did before, but man, he was convicted. He didn’t feel right. It wasn’t the same. The same person can sin just like a lost person, but it ain’t going to feel the same. Something inside is going to say, “Uh-uh, uh-uh, you know better than that.” And it’s going to be Mama’s voice. It’s going to be God’s voice. He might use Mama’s voice, but it’s going to be God working.

Now, here’s the thing: He was created. The next day he was created in Christ Jesus unto good works. That afternoon—and I’ve told this story, but he wanted me to clarify because I’d used this illustration, and he let me know in his later years—he wanted me to clarify. He rode over a bridge, okay? And he had something underneath the seat, a bottle, and he tossed that thing out. So that means all the fish got drunk that day is what it means when you go. No, but he tossed it all out that day.

Now, he had tried to do those things before, but he couldn’t do it. He went to work the next day, Monday, and Dad—if you know my dad, many of you know Brother Dad, we called him—lesser came to salvation witnessing. He was pretty quiet. He wasn’t a loud man, just a quiet man. But I tell you what, the next day he went to work, and he said, “I don’t know what happened.” He said, he had a job. He worked at Continental Can over in Tampa, Florida. It was a good job, but his job was to go around the plant and kind of gather up scrap and put it. It was a good job, actually, in the union; you had to work up for that position, whatnot.

But here’s the thing: He went all over that plant, and he said, “I couldn’t help it. I went all over that plant that day, and I told everybody I got saved. I want you to know, I got Jesus.” And he said, “I came home that day.” He said, “I was exhausted. I was tired.” He said, “I was never like that.” And he got thinking, why am I so tired? And he said, “Because I was busy talking all day long. I was telling everybody about Jesus Christ.”

Now, before that day, he could have never done that. He didn’t have the power to throw the bottle out the window to be done with it. He didn’t have the power to just tell everybody about Jesus Christ. But now he was created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

You see, a lot of people are trying to do all these good works to get to heaven, but they don’t have the power to be there. Years ago, how many of you ever seen my red Dodge Dakota? You remember that little Dodge? I drove around. We had one of our bus kids bang it up a little bit, and then I had one of my children bang it up real good, you know. And anyway, when I bought it, here’s the thing: when I bought it, the engine was just knocking real bad, and we both knew it. That’s why I got a good deal on it. And I said, “Hey,” I said, “you think this engine will last long enough for me to drive it home?” And he said, “No, I don’t think it will.” And I said, “Well, I’m going to try it.” You know how far I got? A block. And I was on the side of the road. Praise the Lord, I had a neighbor. They had a wreck truck. That’s a blessing right there, you know.

But here’s the thing: Man, that thing, it would not go until, man, we got home, put a brand new engine in it, and then it had the power to go. And see, a lot of people, a lot of people are trying to live the Christian life. They’re trying to work and be good enough to go to heaven, but they got a worn-out engine. That’s why they’re defeated. That’s why they’re always trying to get better, better, better, better.

I mentioned to you briefly, I had a privilege of witnessing to a Muslim here recently. And we’ve talked about works. And he said—he stopped me, interrupted me—and he said, “It’s never enough.” I said, “Man, you got it. You’re exactly right.” And all these people that are trying to be good enough, they’ve got a worn-out engine that’s knocking, about to blow out, one that’s going to blow out, they’re going to end up in hell. And let’s say get a new engine through Jesus Christ. See, you don’t go to heaven. You don’t get saved by being good, but you get saved, and God helps you be good. You’re created in Christ Jesus unto good works. See, that’s God’s plan. That’s God’s method.

Now, here’s a neat thing about it. Notice how he worded it in verse number 10 right there, verse number 10. He said, “For we are his workmanship.” He forms you. He makes you. By the way, it’s never fully done to get to heaven. “Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Here’s the thing: Every person here is so unique because God has unique things he would like for you to do. And there may be someone that would never listen to Pastor Paul because he’s a preacher, he’s got three fingers, he’s a little odd, you know. But they would listen to you because you’ve got a unique personality. You’re unique. You’re made to do good works.

Yesterday I preached a funeral down in Manchester. David Clouse’s dad had passed, and I preached a funeral. And here’s the thing: Manchester, a lot of those are some country folk, you know, and I told me—and I like that. I’d fit in real good with that, to be honest with it—but I was the preacher, and I had a suit. They wanted to call it, David had told me, a celebration line. So I didn’t wear a black suit, wore a blue suit and tie and all that. And I was trying to—you know, I was a preacher, that’s proper and right for me to do. But some of those people, they’re like, “Yeah, he’s one of those city slickers.” You know, they’re like, “Ah, he’s wearing a suit. He’s the preacher,” you know.

Now, some of them—there’s a guy there that had a Ph.D. Maybe, maybe because I was a preacher and he thought, “Well, he’s got a little education,” whatever. Maybe he listened a little better to me. But I’ll tell you what, there’s another fellow that spoke there yesterday, and he was a friend of Mr. Clouse. He said to pass—he was in overalls. And Mr. Clouse wrote a poem about overalls, I think, to that man, Paul’s his name. And he got up and he spoke, and he had overalls on. I’ll tell you what, some of those Manchester country folk said, “That city slicker, I ain’t listening to him.” But I’m going to listen to that fellow with those overalls on.

And God uses both. And God has created you a unique way where you can reach someone that I never could reach. You can be a help, and you can be a blessing. You can lead, and you can love, and you can guide them, and you can minister to them like nobody else can because God made you to do that.

Did you notice this? It’s just interesting. We had Jonah up here. And Jonah’s the—Jonah, you’re getting it today. I’m sorry, man, you know, but Jonah’s the suave and the cool guy and all that. And some of you, Brother Dylan—he said, man, when he started walking up here, I was like, you know, that’s the guy. But some of you, you said, “Man, Brayden’s my guy.” You identified with Brayden, and he’s my guy. And not right or wrong. It’s just we’re all different. And God could use Jonah a certain way, and God could use Brayden a certain way, and God could use you a certain way.

That’s why the Bible says in 1 Corinthians—well, it’s not wise when you compare. You don’t understand. It’s not a comparison thing. God’s made you different. God’s given you different assignments to do. And stop comparing. Stop saying, “Well, I can’t do what they’re doing.” No, you can. God doesn’t ask you to do what they’re doing. God asks you to do what he’s called you to do. And don’t compare. That’s going to lead you—I always say it’s going to lead you either to pride or pity, one of the two. Don’t compare. You’re his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

And God’s been forming you for the works that he wants you to do. God’s been training you. Brother Humphers does a great job, and Son is great. And I love it. It’s great. God’s been preparing him for that. Sometimes somebody will listen to me. They said, “Well, that fellow’s missing fingers. He knows what it’s like to pick his nose with his pinky,” you know. I’m joking with you, but he knows what it is to go through a tough time. And they’ll listen to me because God’s been preparing me to minister to that person. God in a unique way has been preparing you to do good works.

And God, he’s before ordained. Here’s the amazing thing: before ordained that you should walk in them. God, in his foreknowledge—and see, he inhabits eternity, Isaiah says. I mean, he’s back there a thousand years ago and he’s in eternity all at the same time. So he sees somebody down the road that he needs someone prepared to minister to them. And God’s preparing you for that, that you should walk. That’s interesting. The timing of things.

I thought about preparing for the message. I thought about when we started the church 20 years ago, and we moved, didn’t know anyone, and so we didn’t start the church right off the bat. And so we visited other churches in the area. And we’ve seen a family, the Sutton family, while visiting these other churches. We’ve seen them. Well, here’s an amazing thing about that: years before we knew them in Florida—I mean, me and Miss Tammy, we used to be beach bums, and we knew that we were beach bums. I’m joking, folks. Don’t take me serious now, you know. But we knew there—we knew there’d been a church in Florida. I’ve got to clarify now, a church in Florida. I’m going to get in trouble today. I don’t know what’s going on with me today. I’ll tell you what, because my ear’s not right, you know, that’s what it is. But we knew them years ago. They were in church. We were in church. We had no idea. We didn’t know anybody in there. Just moved here, started visiting that church, and lo and behold, they were there.

He had his own company. He’s doing fairly good. We didn’t have a Sam’s card. We needed to buy chairs for the first little church. It was some of those folding chairs, Brother Chip, you’re talking metal folding chairs, and a couple of you know about those back in the day, you know. But it’s—hey, you got a Sam’s card? And Brother Sutton said, “I do.” I said, “Can I meet you down at the Sam’s Club down there? I want to buy them. Use your card.” You’ve heard the story. Most of you’ve been around here for the average story. Story number 43. You know that one? You got it? Okay, you got it. Met him down there. Sam’s Club down in Murfreesboro was out of the folding chairs, best that we could find there, out of them. And yet that day, that guy gave me $300. Gave me envelopes. “Hey, here’s a card. You can go buy the other one.” And he gave me an envelope, $300. By the way, that’s how our church banking account started right there, start of $300 that man gave us. Open the church account.

By the way, we went to Sam’s Club up in Antioch there off the 24 a little bit and bought those chairs. If I remember right—now I don’t want to exaggerate—I believe this is the exact number: that cost $299.91. Here’s the thing: God had been orchestrating that thing years before, in his foreknowledge, that we should walk in them, and God was preparing him, preparing us. He knew that that appointment would happen one day. And God’s doing that for you. And God’s preparing you. God has some good works he would like for you to do today.

It may be—it may be when you drive home, you’ll drive through the neighborhood, getting close to your house, and there’s a kid out in the lawn there playing or something, and you wave at him, and you begin to build a relationship with him, and God uses you to influence him for God. I don’t know. But God has good works that he wants you to walk in. And sometimes it’s at times and moments you never dream of, but as you are following God’s will for your life and you’re yielding to his leadership in your life, it’s amazing how God puts it all together to do good works.

It’s just amazing. I was preaching a funeral in Nashville, Ellis Funeral Home, years and years ago, and a fellow had a seizure. I mean, just a grand seizure. I mean, just boom, you know. And my kids were little, and his arms went out, and I think hit John. And John and Sarah both, man, they just ran over to the wall. They were like on the wall. They’re scared to death, you know. Here’s the amazing thing about it: Of course, I interrupted the whole funeral. That’s a great time to get the gospel out. He’s one of those funerals, I think, a lot of lost people there.

Here’s the amazing thing: Basically, that guy fell back, literally fell back into the hands of a doctor, a medical doctor. And I’m talking about people are panicking, and somebody kept—oh, I want to yell and all this stuff. And the guy kept calmly saying, “I’m a medical doctor. It’s okay. I’m a doctor. It’s all right.” And God used that man to calm that service, and the gospel was given. I can’t remember if I got to say there or not. But here’s what I’m saying: God had that man there. And God’s got you where you’re at for a reason. And he’s trying all these good works. He’s trying in your life to—yes, you get saved by grace, but then after that, he creates you in Christ Jesus unto good works.

I’m running out of time, but here’s a sad thing when we don’t complete the good works he’s made us to do. I’ve got to show you the verse. It’s such an amazing verse. Look over in 1 Peter 4. 1 Peter 4. This is a sad verse. We’re going to look at this verse and one last illustration of VBS, and we’re done. First Peter 4, look in verse number 18. 1 Peter 4, verse number 18. Sad verse, I’m just going to warn you ahead of time. 1 Peter 4:18. The Bible there says, “And if the righteous”—who’s the righteous there? Saved folks. “And none righteous, no, not one.” How do you get righteous? Jesus’ righteousness. “He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Who’s it talking about here? The saved, the righteous. “If the righteous”—if the saved folks—here’s the next thing—“scarcely be saved.” They’re saved; they’re righteous in the sight of God, but they’re not living it. They don’t go to church. They don’t love on anybody. They don’t forgive. They haven’t been doing any good works. They’re not getting rid of the bottles and cigarettes or whatever else I told them about my dad. They’re not doing—they’re just living like a lost person. “If the righteous scarcely be saved,” that’s a sad commentary right there. That’s what the Bible means over in James: “Faith without works is dead.” It’s talking about to your neighbor; it’s dead. You’re saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, but it’s not doing anybody a bit of good. That’s what it’s talking about over there.

He says, “If the righteous scarcely be saved,” here’s the sad part: “where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?” Who’s going to do that good work and tell him about grace? Who’s going to do that good work of loving them to the cross? Who’s going to do that good work of shining God’s light in the political arena? Who’s going to do those good works that God has before ordained that you should walk in them? And I’m saved, but I’m scarcely saved. I don’t go to church. I don’t read my Bible. I don’t pray. I’m not living like I ought to. I watch what I want to. I talk like I want to. I dress like I want to. Hey, the sad thing is, where is the world going to go when God’s working in their life and he’s created you to do good work, and you’re not living so you can do that good work?

I’ve thought about it. If salvation is so easy—and it is, Jesus did the hard part—why aren’t more people saved? There are a lot of answers. I understand the devil and blinding of lost ones and other things, but let me tell you, a great answer comes back so often to me. I’m convicted by myself: God’s people aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do. He gave the commission to us. Such a sad thing. Yes, we’re saved by grace alone. Please don’t mix the two. And if you can clarify that for others, it’s happening all across America: this works Christianity.

They’re separate. Remember, Brother Dylan and Brayden and Jonah, they’re separate. Can’t have them both. But then once you’re saved by the grace of God, he’s created you in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that you should walk in them. The timing that you should walk in them.

It’s such a blessing to see our people over Vacation Bible School. I have so many—I thought about Ms. Brenda. Ms. Brenda’s been doing VBS for 15, 16 years. We were told me—we don’t know—maybe the first year we started VBS, she was in, and I don’t know. She’d been doing it for a long time. And she’s made a lot of children and some workers do push-ups that they don’t want to obey.

I’ve seen the Casey family, the whole family—John and Maria and Emily, the whole family—serving. I have a burden for those kids, and I’m so thankful. Brother Anthony did a great job all week long working and organizing and planning. You invited their spots. So many teachers, the Patterson family. I was just loving to the Patterson family. It seemed like all the Patterson family was involved in vacation. But I shouldn’t mention names because there are so many I miss. Our young people, a lot of teenagers involved. It’s great. And they were doing the good works that God had before ordained that they should walk in.

You say, “Well, preacher, man, I messed up a whole lot back there.” Don’t you think God knew that? He knew that. He’s got a plan for you. Listen, you said, “Man, I messed up a whole lot. I missed a whole lot of good works.” Hey, let’s start again today. God has a perfect will for you from today on. That’s what you’re after. All those good works, as you walk the path of life, there’s a whole lot of good works. He’s made you, created you uniquely. That’s why you’re fulfilled when you serve God.

Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please?

You hear this morning, you say, “Preacher, I want to do—I want to be involved. I want to do the good works that I was made to do. I want to perform the good works that I was made to perform.” And God spoke to my heart. I want to be surrendered and following God’s leadership so I’m doing the good works that he’s made me to do. God spoke to my heart about that about you this morning. Just lift your hand and say, “Preacher, that’s me. That’s me.” God bless you. God bless you. Me too. I don’t want to miss them. It’s amazing. It just seems how quickly our life is gone. I don’t want to miss those good works he’s creating me in Christ Jesus to do. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Thank you. Maybe you’ll be one more.

Maybe you’re here this morning, you say, “Preacher, honestly, I need to get my life straightened up.” Not to get saved—I’m already saved—but I’m kind of that scarcely saved sometimes. I need to make some changes. I like to be a brighter light, a clear light shining in dark places, and I need to get some things right so I can be more involved in the good works he’s called me to do. God spoke to my heart about me to make some changes for that. Is that you this morning? Just lift your hand up. God bless you. God bless you. Me too. Me too. It’s a continual thing. God bless you. God bless you. Thank you for letting the Lord lead you and guide you in that good fight. That’s the greatest fight we have: staying right with the Lord.

Anybody else? “Preacher, I need to get some things right so I can do the good works and so I can shine brighter for him.” Anybody else? God bless you. God bless you. Wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you for letting the Lord work in your heart. Thank you so very much. You can put your hands down.

If you hear this morning, you say, “Preacher, I have chosen the grace.” There was a time I realized it’s only Jesus, and I’ve chosen his grace. I’ve accepted Jesus and only Jesus alone to save me, take me to heaven. That’s you? Would you lift your hand? “Preacher, I know I’m saved. I’ve settled that. I’ve chosen the grace, and by the grace of the Lord, I’m on the way to heaven because of that grace.” God bless you. God bless you. Many, many hands. Many, many hands. Thank you. Thank you so very much. You can put your hands down.

Maybe you’re here this morning, or maybe you’re online, and there’s never come a time when you’ve made your decision. It’s kind of like where Brother Dylan was. You’re in between. Maybe you’re just leaning to works and you’re trying to be good enough. Can I encourage you right now? Would you choose grace? Jesus has earned it for you. Would you go to Christ right now? Would you accept his salvation? If you’re there and you say, “Preacher, I know I’m a sinner, can’t save myself, and I know it’s not my good works; it’s Jesus, and I want to accept that grace.” That’s you, right where you’re at, sitting in the cedar or online, wherever you may be, would you go to Jesus right now?

Oh, dear Jesus, I admit it. I’ll never work my way to heaven. I know I won’t. I know you died on the cross and rose again. Right now, I want to come to you. I choose your grace. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for creating me in Christ Jesus. Thank you for giving that to me, helping me to grow and be a good Christian and do all the good works you’ve created me in Christ Jesus to do. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Our heads bowed, eyes are closed. You say, “Preacher, I just chose grace. I knew it was no works. I just put all my faith in Jesus to save me.” Just asked him to save me. Never have before. We just did that. If that’s you, would you just lift your hand up? “Preacher, just ask Christ to be my Savior.” Never have. Just did that. Anybody like that? If you’re on YouTube, you can check below there in the description, and we’ll send you a free Bible. We’re so glad you got saved. Welcome to the family of God. Glad to have you.

Hey, let’s yield to him and do the good works. Would you ask him, “Lord, use me to do good works along the path of life that you have ordained me to do?” Would you do so as a heaven and taste? Would you please stand? We’ll have a word of prayer. We won’t be alone. We’ll sing 336, “Near the Cross.” Don’t wait. Let’s just be quick. Let’s spend some time with the Lord, though. Those that are available, yield. “Lord, use me.” Those are the ones he’ll use. Not the talent that knows—God takes care of the talent—but those that are yielded. “I want to do the good works you made me to do.” Would you let him know that? Father, thank you that you’ve created everyone, every believer, every saved person. You’ve created this in you. You’ve ordained us to good works. Please use us, Lord. This world’s hurting, and we volunteer to be used by you to make a difference in it. Bless our people in the invitation. Father, please. We’ll thank you for what you do in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Would you come as we play? Would you come? Would you bow your heads for just a moment, if you would, please? You know there’s been times in my life when I say, “I missed it. God wanted me to pass that tract out. God wanted me to do this,” and I missed it. I said, “Lord, forgive me. Lord, would you give me another chance? Send someone else. Give me another chance to talk to them,” whatever it may be. Would you just tell him, “Lord, I yield. I know what I missed. I yield to your leadership. I’ll do whatever you want. Help me not to miss those.”

We’ll sing one more verse. If nobody comes, that’ll be it. Would you just tell him? “I don’t want to miss them. Would you use me, Lord?” Would you tell him that as we sing? That’s good. Just present yourself to him, yield to him. “I’d like to be used by you, Lord.” Praise the Lord. You’re right where God wants you this morning in this house. We’re thrilled to have you. And make sure you’re back tonight, 6 o’clock. It will be a special time, always in God’s house. Glad you’re here. Let’s go out and do those good works if you’re a born-again Christian, that is ordained you to do. So glad you’re here. Every person, I appreciate you coming. Brother Frank, would you dismiss with a word of prayer, please, brother?

Original File: Saved through Grace not works - Pastor Paul Chisgar 62120 AM