"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."
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith;”
It is not by our merit, but by His favor that we are saved. Because God has granted grace, His salvation may be received. But redemption can only be obtained “through” faith.
“We are saved by grace, not by faith, which is the channel through (dia) which flows to us the Divine stream of saving grace. Both alike God’s gifts” [1] (Bullinger).
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:5).
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16).
“Whether this passage proves it or not, it is certainly true that faith is the gift of God. It exists in the mind only when the Holy Spirit produces it there, and is, in common with every other Christian excellence, to be traced to his agency on the heart” [2] (Barnes).
We exercise our faith and trust Him for salvation.
“And that not of yourselves:”
Salvation does not come from us, but it is God that gifts it to us.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
“It is the gift of God:”
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Salvation is a gift of grace. A gift is never earned, or worked for, or else it becomes a “wage,” negating the grace. You work to make wages. You are paid a salary for your time and effort on the job that you are given to do. Salvation is never about earning it’s about trusting in Jesus’ provision for you. Salvation is God’s gracious gift.
“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
If we could earn salvation by our good works, we would have something to brag about, how we saved ourselves. But this can never happen because our measly merits can never match the unbearable debt of our sin! Trying to earn salvation by good works is a fool’s errand.
“Now to him, that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).
What grace is this?!
[1] E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.