Study of Ephesians 2:8-9
by John Allen · 33 things on Twos
- What is grace?
- Grace simply means unmerited favor in most places in the Bible.
- We do not see it used but a few times in the Gospels and that is not without reason.
- Paul was the one who began to use the Greek word “charis” to describe what Christ had done for Him. Luke and John then followed suit and used the word.
- Although the word is not often found in the Gospels, the grace of God is on every page. In fact, it is on every page of the Word of God because it is by God’s grace man has been saved throughout all ages.
- Why grace? - Love
- Is grace free? - Does love have a price.
- Is grace all inclusive or selective? Does love have favorites?
- Why is salvation offered by grace?
- What would it be if not for grace?
- Could salvation be offered without grace?
- “If salvation is given on the basis of what a man has done, then salvation is given by God as the payment of a debt. But when faith is reckoned for what it is not, i.e. righteousness, there is no claim on man's part, and he receives as a pure gift something that he has not earned.” - ISBE
- Why faith?
- Why faith over works?
- Why is salvation through faith?
- What would it be if not faith?
- Works
- What is wrong with our works?
- Spiritual answer
- "But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities." (Isaiah 64:6-7)
- Our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.
- "Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:27-28)
- If works were acceptable then we would have wherewith to boast?
- "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God." (Romans 4:2)
- If Abraham were saved by works then he would hath whereof to glory except God.
- "And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Romans 11:6)
- "Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2 Timothy 1:9)
- "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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 Ghost;" (Titus 3:3-5)
- Practical answer
- Why not boast?
- One must reckon with their sinfulness before they can reckon with grace.
- The "perfect" person has no need of grace because to them they are without sin or at least much sin.
- To them they may work their way to favor with God. They believe that they can earn enough merit with God by their morality, church attendance, financial tithes and offerings, baptism, Bible knowledge, etc.