Work That Does Not Save
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
—Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
It is Advent, a dedicated time to reflect on the incarnation of our Savior. It also is the conclusion of the semester, time for final exams, and the end of the calendar year. Students anticipate completing semester projects and final exams. Faculty anticipate grading and the inevitable reminder about completing their annual evaluations. Are we able to get one more paper or proposal out before the end of the year? Is there another work we can contribute to the metrics that sustain or enhance the reputation of the scholar or the university?
As Christians placed in this world, God has gifted us to achieve things for His glory. As good stewards of the talents He has bestowed on us, there is much that we can achieve. The university celebrates the accomplishments of its students and its faculty and the status that those achievements bring. However, Jesus did not come into the world to evaluate the number of papers we publish, the amount of grant money we bring in, or the scores we achieve on our examinations. While those successes may enhance our reputation in this world, boasting about these works does not save us. Our salvation is through faith. How difficult is it for us to humbly receive this gift of God––a gift we have not and cannot earn––in a culture centered on earning reputation for ourselves or for our institution?
May my faith be in Jesus and not in my skills or accomplishments. May I boast in what Christ has done for me. May I contemplate and receive this precious gift of God rather than strive to complete work that does not save.
About the Author
Linda Olafsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, School of Engineering & Computer Science
Linda Olafsen, Ph.D., serves as an associate professor within the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering. Dr. Olafsen has been a member of Baylor University’s faculty since 2006, when she left the University of Kansas to join Baylor’s Department of Physics, later transitioning to her current role in 2015. Dr. Olafsen’s research focuses on semiconductor laser devices and nanomaterials for optoelectronic applications. Her interests lie in applications with infrared lasers, having broad applications from medical use to chemical sensing and environmental sensing. Learn more about her research from a recent Baylor Connections interview.
Dr. Olafsen enjoys mentoring students, helping them to find the thrill of discovery inherent in research. In 2018, she was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching at Baylor. Among her academic publications, she has authored or co-authored 29 journal articles and two book chapters. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in physics from Princeton University, cum laude, and her master of arts and doctoral degrees in physics from Duke University.