![]() In order to clarify, Paul highlighted grace through faith. For Gentiles, unaccustomed to Jewish traditions and laws but fully welcomed into new faith in Christ, confusion threatened to replace the freedom of grace with the guilt, shame, and futile attempts to earn grace by works. Early Christians were tossed back and forth between their newfound faith in Christ and the legalistic remnants of the Jewish faith. In the beginning chapters of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul is explaining “God’s eternal plan to unify all things in Christ, and how the church is to understand its call and identity- who it is, how it came about, and what it’s mission is within this plan” (NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible). Faith fueled by grace with an authentic and obedient seeking of Christ naturally produces good works. What the old law was missing was the Savior who freed them from the legalistic structure of laws. Jesus came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to change them. This divine phraseology turned Jewish theology upside down. Why Does Paul Mention This Topic to the Ephesians? "through faith" - salvation is through faith, not as a cause or condition of salvation, or as what adds anything to the blessing itself but it is the way, or means, or instrument, which God has appointed, for the receiving and enjoying it, that so it might appear to be all of grace and this faith is not the produce of man's free will and power, but it is the free gift of God.it is not of our desiring nor of our deserving, nor of our performing, but is of the free grace of God ( John Gills Exposition) "for by grace" - for by grace is not meant the Gospel, nor gifts of grace, nor grace infused but the free favour of God New Living Translation Helpful Commentary: And you can’t take credit for this it is a gift from God. God saved you by his grace when you believed. It's God's gift from start to finish! - The Message Bible All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. ![]() You are saved by God's grace because of your faith. Other Bible Translations of Ephesians 2:8īecause by grace you have salvation through faith and that not of yourselves: it is given by God - Bible in Basic English Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Cecilie Arcurs ![]() The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible points out “sincere righteousness flows from a transformed heart.” Even in Christ, we are subject to the elements of this fallen world. Our state without salvation is dangerous and destructive. The Greek translation of saved conveys saving, safety, and rescue from danger or destruction. He chose us to give us faith.” God’s character exudes His grace in that He chooses to show us kindness through salvation, even though we don’t deserve and could never earn it. “Therefore, our faith is the mark of being chosen by God. It is not ‘from ourselves,’” John Piper explains. It is the work of grace when we were dead. ![]() It is an all-inclusive, no-strings-attached, free gift from God. No one is required to work earn it or retain it. However, every person He chooses to accomplish big things, through both testaments of Scripture and beyond, were and are flawed. We often fall victim to the misconceived notion we have to be better than the rest to be used by God.
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