Ephesians 2:8 - Saved by GRACE through FAITH.
Ephesians 2:8 - Saved by GRACE through FAITH.
Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8 (AMP) For it is by free grace (God's unmerited
favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers
of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation]
is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your
own striving], but it is the gift of God;
INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS
A major passage for understanding God's grace, i.e., his
kindness, unmerited favor and forgiving love. [NIV SB]
* Lost sinners are not simply sick people needing help; they are
dead people needing life. The Son of God died that we might receive
life through faith in Him (John 5:24).
* Lost sinners are in bondage to the world, the flesh, and the
devil (vv. 1-3) and cannot free themselves. In Christ, you have true
freedom (John 12:31-32; Gal. 1:4; 5:24). Now God is working in you and
through you to accomplish His great purposes (v. 10).
* God did not give you life and leave you in the cemetery. He
lifted you up to sit on the throne with His victorious Son! [Chapter by
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
Paul's assessment of the human condition in Ephesians 2:1-3 is
truly depressing. We were dead in our disobedience, we were following
a course inspired by evil and opposed to God, and we were
seemingly destined for wrath and destruction. Verse 4, however, presents
one of the greatest transitions in all of human history, a
destiny-changing "but" for which we will be eternally grateful. Purely out of his
love and mercy, God gave us life - not just enough for us to survive,
but enough for us to thrive. He even raised us up with Jesus to sit
with him on his throne in heaven, and his plan is to show us
incomparable favor and blessing. It's the ultimate rags-to-riches story. [NIV
Once A Day Bible re Eph. 2:1-10]
WORD STUDY
It is grace on God's part and faith on man's part. Faith accepts
the gift of God. It is through the act of entrusting ourselves to
Him that we are saved, not that faith is the means of our salvation,
but simply the channel (Rom. 4:3). [SDA Bible Commentary]
Grace: Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or
merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person
deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is
"merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and
truth" (Ex 34:6). (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986)
Everything in this life and the next hangs on grace.
Christians live and die dependent on God's grace. Without God's grace, we
would be "without God and without hope" (Ephesians 2:12). Salvation is
God's gift and can never be earned (Romans 9:16; 11:6; Ephesians
2:8-9).
The most important things in life are all gifts of God for
those he has chosen and made his own by his grace - forgiveness, a
right relationship with God, acceptance into God's family as his
child, eternal life, spiritual understanding, the transforming power of
his Holy Spirit, and the promise of God's blessing now and forever
(Ephesians 1:3-14). There is nothing we can do to get these things for
ourselves. That is why Paul begins and ends his letters with a prayer that
God's people would have his grace and peace (for example, Ephesians
1:2; 6:23-24).
In response, believers should live in recognition that we
belong to God (Romans 14:7-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Joy and
thanksgiving are the appropriate responses to God's grace. Believers joyfully
praise God for his glorious grace because we know we owe everything to
God and his Son (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Our entire lives reflect
our gratitude for his grace. [One Year NLT SB]
Many people equate faith with wishful thinking, but it is much
more concrete than that. Faith is believing what God has said, not
merely hoping for something. It is rooted and grounded in God's
purposes and promises. God told Noah to build an ark and save his family
and the animals from the coming deluge. Noah had never seen an ark,
but he believed God and was obedient to what God said. He took God
at his word and acted accordingly. That's faith. [NIV Once A Day
Bible re vs. Gen. 6:22]
COMMENTARY
We look to self, as though we had power to save ourselves; but
Jesus died for us because we are helpless to do this. In Him is our
hope, our justification, our righteousness. We should not despond, and
fear that we have no Saviour, or that He has no thoughts of mercy
toward us. At this very time He is carrying on His work in our behalf,
inviting us to come to Him in our helplessness and be saved. We dishonor
Him by our unbelief. It is astonishing how we treat our very best
Friend, how little confidence we repose in Him who is able to save to
the uttermost, and who has given us every evidence of His great
love. 1SM351
Faith is trusting God--believing that He loves us and knows
best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own, it leads us to
choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in
place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His
righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His
ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been
pointed out as secrets of life's success. It is faith that puts us in
possession of these principles.....
How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every
promise of God there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will,
all His strength is ours. Whatever gift He promises, is in the
promise itself. "The seed is the word of God." Luke 8:11. As surely as
the oak is in the acorn, so surely is the gift of God in His
promise. If we receive the promise, we have the gift.
Faith that enables us to receive God's gifts is itself a
gift, of which some measure is imparted to every human being. It grows
as exercised in appropriating the word of God. In order to
strengthen faith, we must often bring it in contact with the word.
ED253-4
Who would ever say they really didn't want the very best life
could bring? No matter what the environment we find ourselves in, we
all want the best there is. And this is where the best begins, with
a personal relationship to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is
a simple message. We are lost and must be saved, if ever we are to
enjoy the best there is. Best really isn't even a good word, for it
connotes comparison. And what comparison is there between life and
death; between an intimate relationship with the Creator of the
universe and a constant growing knowledge of Him, or a habitual process
of pain, frustration and degradation? None. God's desire is for
all to come to Him in salvation, and His grace provides the way
through Jesus His Son. This salvation cannot be earned. It is available
through the love of God. Do you have this intimate, growing
relationship? Tell others. If you don't have it, it is available now. [In
His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
ILLUSTRATION
Once a mother took her little girl to a lesson with Edgar
Degas, the French Impressionist painter and sculptor. While they were
there, the mother reproved the little girl for making mistakes in her
spelling.
"Why do mistakes in spelling matter?" the child protested.
"Why do they matter? Because they do, and it is very naughty
in a little girl to make them, isn't it, Monsieur Degas?"
Peering sideways at the mother, he responded appropriately,
"Very naughty." Then, when the mother had left them, Degas said to the
child, "Which would you like best - to know how to spell or to have a
box of candy?"
"Candy!" cried the little girl without hesitation.
"Well, so would I," replied Degas. "But if you were to have
to ask for candy in writing, and if you could not spell the word
candy, what do you think that would mean?"
"Well, I guess it might mean that I would get something other
than candy." "I see," said Degas knowingly. "So do you now think that
mistakes in spelling matter?"
"Oh, y-e-s!" said the little girl seriously.
And so it is with other things in our lives. They become more
important to us when we understand why they matter. For instance, it is
extremely important to understand God's grace, and yet many of us don't
"get it." We understand it intellectually, perhaps, but not really
with our hearts.
Then one day we come to understand that we are saved because,
through his Son, God has given us his undeserved favor, and the
importance of grace becomes primary in our lives.
So let me ask you, how do you spell grace? I spell it
J-e-s-u-s.
Thank you, Father, for saving me from my sins through your
wonderful grace and love. I would surely be eternally lost without them.
Amen. [The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter by Mary
Hollingsworth]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. So when you're acutely aware of your insufficiency - rejoice!
This is what being poor in spirit is all about. The world applauds
self-sufficiency, and bookstores abound with volumes designed to help you reach
this goal. However, this is not the way of My kingdom. I want My
children to recognize and rejoice in their utter dependence on Me.
You have been saved by grace, through faith. Both grace and
faith are gifts! Your part is to be receptive and responsive to these
glorious gifts. The best response is gratitude - a heart overflowing with
thankfulness for all I have done. You are exceedingly blessed because the
kingdom of heaven is yours. When the strain of living in this fallen
world is getting you down, resist the temptation to feel sorry for
yourself. Instead, say to yourself, "I am blessed and thankful - and on my
way to Glory!" (Mat. 5:3; Eph. 2:8; 2Co. 9:15; Psa. 73:24) [Jesus
Today by Sarah Young]
I want you to experience the riches of your salvation: the
Joy of being loved constantly and perfectly. You make a practice of
judging yourself, based on how you look or behave or feel. If you like
what you see in the mirror, you feel a bit more worthy of My Love.
When things are going smoothly and your performance seems adequate,
you find it easier to believe you are My beloved child. When you
feel discouraged, you tend to look inward so you can correct whatever
is wrong.
Instead of trying to "fix" yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the
Lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself,
redirect it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in My
righteousness, radiant in My perfect Love. (Eph. 2:7, 8; Heb. 3:1; Psa. 34:5)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am pleased with you, My child. Allow yourself to become
fully aware of My pleasure shining upon you. You don't have to perform
well in order to receive My Love. In fact, a performance focus will
pull you away from Me, toward some sort of Pharisaism. This can be a
subtle form of idolatry: worshiping your own good works. It can also be
a source of deep discouragement when your works don't measure up
to your expectations.
Shift your focus from your performance to My radiant
Presence. The Light of My Love shines on you continually, regardless of
your feelings or behavior. Your responsibility is to be receptive to
this unconditional Love. Thankfulness and trust are your primary
receptors. Thank Me for everything; trust in Me at all times. These simple
disciplines will keep you open to My loving Presence. (Eph. 2:8, 9; 3:16-19;
Psa. 62:8) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
LINKS FOR PROPHECY SEMINARS:
Revelation Today by Pastor John Bradshaw:
https://revelationtoday.com/other-streams/
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
