Thesis
In Ephesians 2:1–10, Paul exposes the bankruptcy of 'goodyism' — the universal human instinct to earn God's approval through good deeds — and replaces it with grace. We are fully dead in sin and cannot earn life; but God, rich in mercy, makes us alive together with Christ. The proper response is not striving for approval but resting in the love already given, and from that rest, freely walking in the good works God prepared for us as His masterpiece.
Key points
- 1
We are fully dead in sin — not merely weak or sick — and cannot earn what we do not have.
- 2
Every religion and worldview outside of biblical Christianity teaches some form of goodyism — the idea that being or doing good enough saves you.
- 3
God's mercy is not passive withholding of judgment but an active, lavish kindness that makes us alive together with Christ.
- 4
We must move from striving for God's approval to resting in the grace He has already given — God loves us because of who He is, not because of what we do.
- 5
Salvation is entirely by grace through faith — it is a gift, not a reward — so we have nothing to boast about in ourselves.
- 6
We are God's masterpiece (poiema — His poem, His work of art), created in Christ Jesus to walk in the good works He planned for us as a loving response to His grace.
- 7
Living from grace requires faith, not feelings — choosing to trust God's Word when the world's pattern tells us it can't be right.
Outline
Introduction: What Is Life?
The pastor frames New Year's goal-setting around a deeper question: what does 'a better life' really mean? He introduces the sermon's central contrast — grace versus goodyism — and defines goodyism as the belief that being good enough earns God's approval and the good things we want.
Point 1 — Accept That You Can't Earn What You Don't Have (Ephesians 2:1–3)
Drawing on Ephesians 2:1–3, the pastor shows that humanity is not merely weak in sin but fully dead, and that sin is a habitual pattern of life, not just isolated events. Every religion and worldview teaches goodyism, but it can never earn life from death — it only dulls the pain like cold medicine masks a virus.
Point 2 — Move from Striving to Resting (Ephesians 2:4–7)
God's rich mercy is an active, lavish kindness that makes us alive together with Christ — a present reality, not just a future hope. The pastor illustrates through a baseball story with his father how goodyism turns relationship into exhausting striving for approval, and calls the congregation to rest in a love already freely given.
Point 3 — Live by Faith, Not Feeling: You Are God's Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:8–10)
Salvation is a gift, not a reward, so obedience becomes a loving response rather than a transaction. The word 'masterpiece' (poiema) means we are God's poem — His condensed image, purposefully crafted — and living out His works flows naturally from resting in that identity. Faith chooses to trust God's Word over the feelings shaped by the world's death-pattern.
Closing: The Tale of Two Dogs
Two rescued dogs illustrate the sermon's choice: one rested in the love of its rescuers and lived a loyal, full life; the other always saw love as a threat, ran from it, and died in the street. The pastor asks each person, 'Which dog are you — the rescued or the runner? Grace or goodyism?'
Memorable moments
We live from grace, not Goodeism
You can say you're a Christian, but live by goodyism. And it's gonna make you a bitter, frustrated, and sometimes sad, and even feel like God doesn't like you
God loves me because of who he is, not because of what I do
We are God's poem. What is a poem? A poem is something that brings to life thoughts, feelings, objectives, reality in a condensed form using words
One rested in the love and the rescue and responded to that love. One always saw it as a threat and wanted to run into its own thing. They both died. But it was a very different life
Paraphrase
feelings are real, but they're not always right.
Application
The pastor's call is simple and searching: which dog are you — the rescued or the runner? Start the year by honestly asking whether you have been approaching God, church, giving, and obedience through goodyism — performing to earn approval and get what you want — or through grace. If it is goodyism, the first step is to accept that you cannot earn what you do not have. Then stop striving and rest in the truth that God loves you because of who He is, not because of what you do. From that place of rest, obedience stops being a burden and becomes a joyful response — the living out of what it means to be God's poem, His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to walk in the good works He planned for you long ago.
