"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). You have been saved receiving the gift of God, meaning that you could never earn nor deserve it. Grace is God's gift to you, the opposite of works.
You may hear some people saying, "We are all working to go to the same place." They imply that somehow, if we work enough for God, then we may be assured of heaven. Notice that the Bible clearly teaches the opposite. It's by grace alone, and not of ourselves. "It is the gift of God, not of works."
You may hear some people saying, "We are all working to go to the same place." They imply that somehow, if we work enough for God, then we may be assured of heaven. Notice that the Bible clearly teaches the opposite. It's by grace alone, and not of ourselves. "It is the gift of God, not of works."
What part does faith play in our salvation? Faith can never be the meritorious cause of salvation. Faith is the means of receiving the gift of God in Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the saving grace of God incarnate (John 1:14). You have been saved by grace alone, through faith in Christ.
You have been saved trusting or relying upon Christ alone, who died for your sins and was raised for your justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:24). Understand that faith itself is a gift of God's saving grace. Faith is one of the three abiding gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13).
You have been saved by grace alone and "not of yourselves." God does something in you that you could never do for yourself. Grace is the gift of God that changes your heart, enabling you to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
