The book of Ephesians is one of the apostle Paul’s most important letters, written to the church in Ephesus. This letter contains a wealth of teaching about the Christian life and the nature of the church. In chapter 2, Paul teaches us about our salvation in Christ Jesus and how that salvation is achieved by grace, not works. Let’s dig deeper into this subject and learn what the Bible has to say on the subject.
Salvation by Grace
In Ephesians 2:8-9 , Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In these verses, Paul teaches us that salvation is a free gift we receive by God’s grace, not something we can earn by our own works. Salvation is a gift from God that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ.
This means that salvation is not something we can earn through our own merits, efforts, or abilities. We cannot buy it, earn it, or earn it by our own means. Rather, it is a gracious gift that God freely offers us.
This grace is offered to all, regardless of our race, ethnicity, social status or performance. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. It is completely free, a gift we receive by God’s mercy and love.
Additional Verses:
- Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” “
- Romans 3:23-24: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
These verses make it clear that salvation is a gift we receive by God’s grace and not by our own works. Salvation is freely given to us through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
The Nature of Grace
Grace is one of the main themes of the Bible. She is the expression of God’s love for us, even when we don’t deserve it. It is the force that enables us to live a Christ-transformed life and overcome the challenges we face. Grace is what frees us from the bondage of sin and gives us the hope of eternal life.
God’s grace is truly amazing and incredible. She is a gift we receive without deserving. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace. It is completely unconditional and free.
Additional Verses:
- John 1:16-17: “Out of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
- Romans 5:20: But the law came that the offense might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more;”
These verses show that God’s grace is abundant and overflows in our lives. It is greater than any sin or transgression we can commit. Grace is a gift we receive from the fullness of God, and there are no limits to the amount of grace we can receive.
Our Response to Grace
While salvation is a free gift from God, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a role to play in our own salvation. In Ephesians 2:8-9 , Paul teaches us that salvation is by grace, but he also says that it is “through faith” . This means that we must exercise faith in Jesus Christ to receive the gift of salvation.
Faith is our response to God’s grace. When we receive God’s grace, it leads us to have faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Faith allows us to receive the salvation that God freely offers us.
Furthermore, faith also enables us to live a life that honors God. When we trust God, we are able to live according to his will and overcome the challenges we face in our Christian journey.
Additional Verses:
- Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever approaches him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.”
- James 2:17-18: “So faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by works.”
These verses highlight the importance of faith in our Christian life. Faith is what allows us to please God and receive the blessings he has for us. However, faith must also be accompanied by actions that demonstrate our trust in God and our commitment to living a life that honors him.
Conclusion
In short, salvation is by the grace of God and it is a gift that we freely receive. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation, but we must exercise faith in Jesus Christ to receive it. God’s grace is amazing and overflows into our lives, enabling us to live a life that honors him. May we always remember God’s grace and trust him in all areas of our lives.
Additional Verses:
- Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand for us to do.”
- Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It teaches us to renounce ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live sensibly, justly, and godly in this present age, as we look forward to the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all wickedness, and purify for himself a people particularly his own, dedicated to the practice of good works.”
These additional verses highlight that God’s grace not only saves us, but also teaches us to live according to his will. We must renounce ungodliness and live sensibly and righteously, awaiting the glorious return of Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem and purify us, making us a people dedicated to the practice of good works.
May we always remember God’s grace in our lives and exercise faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. May our lives be a response to God’s grace, living sensibly, righteously, and godly, doing good works, and awaiting the glorious return of Jesus Christ. May the grace of God enable us to live a life that honors him in all that we do. Amen.
