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Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace and Faith
Ephesians 2:8-9
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.
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Why it is worth knowing
- Salvation is entirely a gift: nothing we earn or deserve
- Grace is God’s unmerited favor given freely to the undeserving
- Faith is the channel through which grace is received, not the cause of salvation
- The removal of boasting preserves the glory of God alone
Where it sits: Ephesians 2:4-10
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Hear the passage it sits in, sung word for word, on BibleDo's Ephesians page.
Background
Paul writes to the church in Ephesus to remind them of the foundation of their new life in Christ. The preceding verses describe humanity as “dead in transgressions and sins”: spiritually lifeless. Against that backdrop, Paul uses one of the most dramatic transitions in all of Scripture: “But God...” What follows is a cascade of grace: made alive, raised up, seated in heavenly places. This verse is the compact summary of that entire movement.