Table of Contents
Date: SUN 7:00pm 30th November 2025
Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin
Bible Reference: Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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Sermon Summary
Detailed Summary of the Sermon: “Focusing on the Faith that Saves”
(Ephesians 2:8–10, preached from the King James Bible)
The service began with a reading of Ephesians 2:1–10, followed by a special music ministry from sister Brianna. The preacher then took as his text Ephesians 2:8:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
He entitled the message “Focusing on the Faith that Saves” and observed that “faith” has become a vague buzz-word in modern Christianity. Many people claim “I have my faith” without ever defining what they mean, and sadly some preachers confuse rather than clarify the biblical doctrine. The preacher set out to answer four vital questions:
- What is the true nature of saving faith?
- Why is it so important?
- What (or Who) is its proper object?
- Do all people possess saving faith?
The Structure of the Sermon
The preacher organised the message around three main headings drawn from the text:
1. The Substance that is Revealed – What Faith Actually Is
- He gave the classic answer of the Shorter Catechism (Q. 86):
“Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel.” - Saving faith is not the new birth itself, nor conviction of sin, nor effectual calling, nor merely “trusting Jesus” in a general sense.
- It is not exalting one’s own decision, aisle-walking, card-signing, or prayer-reciting.
- It is not resting upon evidences or inward graces.
- Rather, it is a Spirit-wrought grace that receives and rests upon Christ alone as He is freely offered in the gospel.
He distinguished four kinds of “faith” found in Scripture and life:
- Natural faith – everyday trust that all people exercise (sitting on chairs, taking medicine, flying in aeroplanes, eating food).
- True saving faith – a supernatural gift sovereignly bestowed by the Holy Spirit in the new birth (Eph 2:8 – “and that not of yourselves … it is the gift of God”).
- Increasing faith – the faith believers already possess can be strengthened through the Word, prayer, the sacraments, and obedient holiness (Luke 17:5).
- Demonstrating faith – genuine faith inevitably produces fruit and perseveres through trial; the just shall live by faith (Heb 10:38–39).
Only the second category – true saving faith – actually saves, because it unites the sinner to Christ.
2. The Saviour that is Received – Who Christ Actually Is
The object of saving faith is the Lord Jesus Christ, and the preacher stressed that He is:
- The most suitable Saviour: the God-man (John 1:1–3, 14); truly God (refuting Jehovah’s Witnesses’ insertion of “a god”) and truly man (incarnate by virgin birth, Heb 2).
- Perfectly sinless, He kept the law for us and offered one all-sufficient sacrifice (Heb 9:26; 10:12).
- The most powerful Saviour: risen, exalted, and ever living to intercede (Heb 7:25 – “able to save to the uttermost”).
- The most willing Saviour: His invitation is universal – “whosoever believeth” (John 3:16) and “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
- The sole Saviour: “Neither is there salvation in any other” (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).
- The most satisfying Saviour: He bestows peace, pardon, eternal life, the indwelling Spirit, victory over sin, and the prospect of heaven.
3. The Salvation that is Realised – How We Actually Receive It
- Salvation is by grace alone – utterly undeserved favour shown to guilty rebels.
- It is through faith alone – faith is the empty hand that receives Christ; it is instrumental, not meritorious.
- It is in Christ alone – we are saved from sin’s penalty (now), power (progressively), pleasure (transformed affections), and one day its very presence.
- Faith itself is “not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” – even the ability to believe is sovereignly granted in the new birth.
The preacher closed with two vivid illustrations:
- The Christian is like the giant sequoia “General Sherman” – rooted deeply in Christ, drawing life from Him.
- Echoing Psalm 1, the believer is “like a tree planted by the rivers of water” that brings forth fruit in season and prospers in all he does.
Final Appeal
The preacher urged every hearer to examine whether they truly know this grace, this Saviour, and this faith. Do you rest upon Christ alone as He is offered in the gospel? If so, you are saved, kept, and will persevere to glory. If not, the invitation still stands tonight: forsake all other confidences and trust Him alone.
The sermon concluded with prayer that God would bless the word to the salvation of souls and the strengthening of His people.
