Since 1997, New-Light.org has been proclaiming the Biblical truth of the Gospel.
The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Let’s look at these verses…
“by grace” – what is grace? Grace is when God does a favor for you without you earning it. In other verses we hear of God’s free gift. A gift is a gift… not earned. It’s the same with grace.
What is this gift?
“…you’ve been saved…”
Saved from what? Your sin. The Bible says that we have all sinned against God. Have you ever lied, desired someone’s possessions, jealous, or proud? These are just a few actions that God calls sin.
Only once – that’s all – if you have done any of these only once in your life, you have sinned against God.
Because God is perfect, He can’t be in the presence of sin. So He provided a way for you to be saved – He allowed His perfect Son, Jesus, to take your sin.
“…through faith…” God only requires that you place your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
If God offered you a gift and you rejected it, you would not receive the benefit of that gift. Likewise, God offers you the free gift of grace to save you from your sin but it is only be accepting it by faith in Jesus.
“…. and that not of yourselves…” Paul emphasizes that you don’t earn grace. If you try to pay for a gift, it is no longer a gift. Paul tells us in a different book of the Bible that if you try to earn it then, “Grace is no longer grace.” It can’t be earned!
“…it is a gift a God; not a result of works…” Again Paul emphasizes that we can’t do anything to receive this gift other than place our faith in Jesus.
“by grace” – what is grace? Grace is when God does a favor for you without you earning it. In other verses we hear of God’s free gift. A gift is a gift… not earned. It’s the same with grace.
What is this gift?
“…you’ve been saved…”
Saved from what? Your sin. The Bible says that we have all sinned against God. Have you ever lied, desired someone’s possessions, jealous, or proud? These are just a few actions that God calls sin.
Only once – that’s all – if you have done any of these only once in your life, you have sinned against God.
Because God is perfect, He can’t be in the presence of sin. So He provided a way for you to be saved – He allowed His perfect Son, Jesus, to take your sin.
“…through faith…” God only requires that you place your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
If God offered you a gift and you rejected it, you would not receive the benefit of that gift. Likewise, God offers you the free gift of grace to save you from your sin but it is only be accepting it by faith in Jesus.
“…. and that not of yourselves…” Paul emphasizes that you don’t earn grace. If you try to pay for a gift, it is no longer a gift. Paul tells us in a different book of the Bible that if you try to earn it then, “Grace is no longer grace.” It can’t be earned!
“…it is a gift a God; not a result of works…” Again Paul emphasizes that we can’t do anything to receive this gift other than place our faith in Jesus.