"So No One May Boast"

 “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)

If it were not for this verse, the Reformation may never have occurred, leaving Europe as a single works-based religion. But God had other plans. A Catholic priest struggling with his depravity read this verse written by the apostle Paul and realized that one cannot work one's way to heaven.

Ephesians 2:8-9 gave Martin Luther the understanding that salvation came from the grace of God, who gave one the ability to hear and understand the gospel and come to faith in Christ Jesus as their Savior.

This verse obliterates any argument of truth in a works-based religion. It destroys those who twist the words of James. It solidifies once and for all the necessity of the five Solas: Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria. We are saved by scripture alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, all for the glory of God alone.

However, scripture alone will not save us. We are incapable of saving ourselves by reading scripture alone. Remember, Paul tells us, “We are dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1–2), our minds and hearts are darkened (Eph. 4:18), and not only do we need to be raised from the dead, but also to have the light of the world, Jesus Christ, shine upon us (Eph. 5:14).

Therefore, at some point, the elect will be enabled by grace alone, the grace of God, to hear and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ's penal substitutionary death and resurrection pay for our sins. It is Christ's grace that allows change, a profound and supernatural change, to occur in a depraved human being, offering hope and inspiration to all.

When this change occurs, and the gospel is heard, that person God has elected will come to faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. The gospel must be heard; Paul also told us, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17). Therefore, we are all to spread the gospel as Christ commissioned us, understanding that each person's journey of faith is unique and deeply personal.

Becoming a Christian is not a birthright. It does not require you to be raised in a Christian home. You cannot be a Christian from the day you were born. Becoming a Christian requires God to change your heart, and when this happens, you realize that you are totally depraved and need a Savior. I feel sorry and worry for those who think they can work their way into heaven. They struggle needlessly with burdens of their religion. They have no assurances of going to heaven, and they have been fed a twisted version of salvation. All of this is entirely wrong and a tragedy.

We have seen how four of the five Solas are necessary and work together to secure our salvation. Scripture is the true word of God, inerrant, and provides assurances of salvation through God's sovereignty and reliability. Christ provided a payment for our sins that satisfied God's wrath and dispensed his grace so that we may be enabled to hear and comprehend the gospel. Through the grace of Christ, we come to faith in Him as our Savior.

All of this occurs for one reason—not our salvation, adoption into God’s family, or eternal life in heaven. It happens so that we may glorify God, Soli Deo Gloria, all for God's glory, the fifth Solas. Everything God created was for His glory. Adam failed, and humanity suffered. God was robbed of His glory, Satan reveled in evil, and the world no longer resembled Eden. But God….

Before creation, before time, God had planned the redemption of the human race. The plan was decided in conjunction with His only Son and the Holy Spirit.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). God died that you might live. How much do you love God?

Grace and Peace!