“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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (KJV, Eph. 2:8-10).
“For by grace”
For by grace is one of the resounding themes in Scripture. God’s grace is evident throughout the Bible, but there is a no more remarkable display of the grace of God than in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The Christian must learn to do more than define the word grace. The Christian must learn to live in God’s grace and allow His grace to affect his life. The Bible tells us that it is good when the Christian is strengthened by grace (Heb. 13:9). Elsewhere, Paul instructs Timothy to be strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:1). Be strengthened by the grace of God this day.
“are ye saved”
Do not forget that salvation is by grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. Grace is when the Christian gets what he does not deserve. But what does it mean to be saved? Salvation encompasses many aspects. First, salvation entails being justified. This means that salvation consists of being saved from the penalty of sin. Ephesians 2:8-9 is primarily concerned with the justification of the believer.
Second, salvation involves sanctification. This means that salvation includes being saved from the power of sin. Finally, salvation means that the Christian will be glorified, which speaks of the day when the believer is saved from the presence of sin.
Salvation is all-encompassing and therefore does not simply consist of being saved from the wrath of God and hell. Thus, the Christian must learn to expand his view of salvation to see all the wonders of the Gospel message.
“through faith”
Paul tells us that the Christian is saved by grace through faith. This means that faith is the channel by which God travels. As a result, there is no other way that a person can be saved. The only way to be saved is to believe in Christ as He has been revealed in His Gospel.
The faith of a Christian does not need to be perfect, for nobody has perfect faith. It is the perfection of the object that secures salvation, which is Christ, not the perfection of the channel that grace travels down. A river may be clogged with logs, rocks, and debris and thereby not be a perfect channel for water to travel, but as long as there is a hole, the water will get through. So it is with faith the size of a mustard seed.
“and that not of yourselves”
An encouraging fact about salvation is that it is not man’s work. Here we encounter a vast difference between the religions and cults of the world. A common thread runs through them all. The thread is that of a self-focused pursuit of eternal life. However, the Bible tells us that the salvation God offers is not man’s work.
“it is the gift of God”
Instead, salvation is the work of God. Sin has caused a great divide between God and man. The chasm is too vast for man to cross. It is larger than the chasm that separated the rich man and Lazarus. It is as wide of a difference as death is from life. The only hope that man has is that God will make a way.
Man is dead in sin and a child of wrath, apart from God’s intervention. But we see God has made a way through His Son, Jesus Christ. The giving of Christ for the salvation of sinners was a gift to the world.
It is also adequately said that faith is a gift. The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Thus, Jesus starts the Christian’s faith and brings it to completion.
“Not of works”
Yet again, we read that salvation is not man’s doing and is, therefore, not based upon good works. Simply put, good works constitute law-keeping. People are unable to impress God with the life that they have lived. If someone desires to be humbled, let him look at the cross. The life of the most remarkable man who has ever lived brought about the death of Christ. The reason being is that in every life, there has been sin.
Paul tells us that salvation is by grace and it is, therefore, not of works. If salvation were by works, it would no longer be by grace(Rom. 11:6). In Ephesians 2:8-9 grace and works are opposed to each other. However, we will see how the two are closely connected as well.
“lest any man should boast”
God desires that no man would boast before Him. When king Herod grew proud in his heart and ceased to give glory to God, he fell dead before a watching crowd. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked at his kingdom and said that his own hands had built it, God afflicted the king with insanity. Man is not in a position to boast before God, nor should he desire to do such a thing. Man was created to glorify God; thus, he must learn to boast in Christ alone.
“For we are his workmanship”
Man is said to be the workmanship of God. How ridiculous would it be for a clay vessel to boast before the potter of its design? God is said to be a Potter, and man is a lump of clay. Man is the workmanship of the All-Wise Potter, and God does with one lump as He so chooses and with another lump in the same regard. The reality of God’s creation of man should move man toward a position of humility rather than boasting.
“created in Christ Jesus”
God has taken the one who at one time was dead in sin and brought about a new creation in Christ Jesus. The Potter has made out of the clay a vessel for honorable use. The Christian has been united with Christ in His resurrection through the work of the Holy Spirit, which brings about a new birth.
The Christian has been created in Christ. But for what purpose?
“unto good works”
Here we see ourselves doubling back to the topic of good works. A little while ago, we read that salvation is not of works, but it is by grace. We also looked at what Paul had to say about works and grace and how Paul told us that if something comes by grace, it cannot come by way of works, or grace would no longer be grace. Therefore, we saw that grace and works were at odds with each other.
But here, we see that grace and works are not always at odds with each other. Grace saves the Christian, and salvation in regards to being saved from the penalty of sin must be seen as entirely the work of God. However, God saves the Christian from the penalty of sin to begin sanctification, which is the work of God and man. God calls the Christian to turn from sin and to live for Him. It has been said that if sanctification has not begun in someone’s life, neither has justification occurred. The two are inseparable.
“which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”
In Ephesians 1:4-5 we read of God’s sovereign plan to save sinners before time began. Next, we read about justification in Ephesians 2:8-9. Finally, Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God had explicitly planned for the believer’s sanctification before time began.
God does not call people out of their mess and leave them standing idly in the road. God calls people out of their mess and calls them to Himself. God has paved the road for the Christian to travel. The road is paved with the commands of Scripture. Walk in them.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the incredible gift of salvation. I do not deserve Your love, but I thank You for Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.