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. - Eph. 2:8-10 How God Does Not Save Us There is one last idea in Ephesians 2:8–9. It tells how God does not save sinners: “not by works, so that no one can boast.” This makes “faith” something other than a work; for although faith is a channel by which the grace of God comes to us, it is not a deserving action or attitude on our part. In speaking on this text I have sometimes referred to the previous phrase in verse 8 (“and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”) as referring to faith, teaching that even faith is God’s gift. This is probably not what Paul had in mind, because “faith” (pistis) is feminine, and “this” (touto) is neuter. The statements in verse 8 probably refer to the whole of the previous sentence, teaching that the salvation which is ours through faith is not of ourselves but rather is God’s gift. Still, although Paul is writing that “faith” is not from ourselves, the point is nevertheless valid in that we do not contribute to our salvation even in so vital a matter as the faith by which Christ’s work is received. If faith were a virtue, then we would be able to boast in heaven. We would be there because of the grace of God plus faith, and another would not be there because in his case faith was lacking. No, not even faith is a work. Nothing that you or I can do, however great or small, can get us into salvation. If we think there is, we are still trusting ourselves and our own ability rather than Christ, and we cannot be saved. Salvation is by grace alone. All we can do (but also must do) is take the pitcher God puts in our hand—and thank him because it is a lot better than anything we ever had before. Will you not do that? It is the way a person becomes a Christian and thus passes out of death into life. Say, as we do in the hymn, Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling; Naked, come to thee for dress, Helpless, look to thee for grace; Foul, I to the Fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee. Boice, J. M. (1988). Ephesians: an expositional commentary (p. 68). Grand Rapids, MI: Ministry Resources Library.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:35:37 +0000
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