SEPTEMBER 16, Ephesians 2:8

Today’s text is well-known by many Christians. Some Christians have it as their life-text. Many Christians have memorized it. Countless preachers have preached on it. It may well be the main theme of the book of Ephesians. Child, try to memorize it.

‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.’ Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve. We don’t deserve to be pardoned or forgiven of our sin. But God has given his grace – in the person of the Lord Jesus. God has saved us. Saving us is God’s plan, God’s doing. We don’t save ourselves; we can’t save ourselves. We are sinners; we can do nothing to earn or deserve God’s favor. Read Psalm 53:3 and fill in the blanks. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become ___________ ; There is             that doeth good, no, not one.

In the act of salvation, we do nothing, absolutely nothing. How can it be? Don’t we exercise faith? One must have knowledge of and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and then only can he be saved. Exercising our faith is our doing, isn’t it? So we do have a part in our salvation, don’t we? No! Listen to the apostle - he tells us that the grace-through-faith way of saving us is ‘not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast’.

The act of trusting Christ is part of salvation. So when God gives salvation, he also gives us the faith to believe in Jesus. In the past you could not believe, now you do. You had neglected him, now you accept and trust him. Did you suddenly improve? No, not at all. It is because God is gracious to save you, at the same time giving you faith to believe and receive.

Some people think that they must live good lives in order to be saved. How wrong they are! As Christians, we are to live good lives. But living a good life does not save. Living a good life is a result of being saved! As we are saved, we should live differently on this earth because we know we must live the way God teaches us according to the many wonderful doctrines and lessons in the Bible. He has made us new, so we should live as new people going about doing good deeds.

Thought: How are we saved?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that salvation is Your gift; when You saved me, You also gave me the faith to believe and receive. Thank You for salvation so rich and free. I praise You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.