"By Grace You Have Been Saved"

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

Everyone loves a gift. There is no greater joy than opening a gift and finding something you need or want. Salvation through Christ alone is the gift that keeps on giving. You cannot outgrow it; it does not get smaller or decrease in value. It continues to grow within you. Better yet, it can be a surprise gift. Even if you do not know you need it, God knows and will make the arrangements for you to receive it.

We receive faith completely through the grace of God. Paul wrote, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:6). God’s grace is the enabling factor in His work of salvation in one who is lost; otherwise, the gospel will fall on deaf ears and a hardened heart. We cannot earn God’s grace as much as we cannot earn salvation. Our works outside of salvation are simply dirty rags. Isaiah wrote, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”(v. 46:6) While this was meant for the Israelites, the principle is still accurate today.

But wait, does not James say that works are required for faith? Often confused, when James says, “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?”(2:20). What James is saying is that faith without the fruit of works is not faith or faith that should be questioned. Many false teachings place works at the root of salvation, when they are actually the fruit of salvation. While we may do service work in the secular world, when we are called to God and receive salvation, it is not by our own merit, just as Paul reminded us in today's opening verses.

Anytime work is associated as a requirement for salvation, the sacrifice of Christ is rendered useless for those people. They fail to recognize the depth of their depravity and their need for a savior, meaning there has been no transformation of the heart, no salvation received. In Christ’s act of salvation on the human, there is a spiritual transformation that must take place for the hardened heart to come to faith. The works are what we desire to do, not commanded to do, and we do them to glorify God, not ourselves. If it is us we intend to glorify, then we are proud and boastful, both of which God hates. Just look at Psalm 5:5, “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.”

Are you still trying to work your way to heaven? Helping the elderly across the street, helping someone broken down on the side of the road, and the like are noble acts, but they will not get you to heaven. Please, come to know the truth contained in the scriptures. We are saved in scripture alone, by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone, all for the glory of God alone.

Seeking an eternity in heaven? Seek our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in Him alone that one is made righteous before God and inherits the Kingdom of Heaven.

Grace and Peace!