For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Into the Text
Apart from holidays, we rarely find that things in life are free or a gift without strings attached. Most of the time, we have to earn or pay for the things we receive. This can make it hard to believe Paul’s words here in Ephesians 2. Can the gospel be that simple?
In yesterday’s passage, we learned that God lavishes His mercy upon us. Today, we read that salvation is a gift of grace. While mercy is not getting what you deserve, grace is getting what you don’t deserve. It is unmerited favor.
Salvation is a gift of grace through faith. This truth is so contradictory to every other world religion which says that you must work to earn your salvation. Christianity says the opposite. We don’t have to do anything to earn our salvation because we cannot and do not deserve it.
Instead, all we have to do is trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Our sin is deserving of death, but Jesus took our place by dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the grave three days later. He did this out of His great love for us.
This is the simple truth of the gospel. It is not Jesus plus works. It’s not Jesus plus going to church every week. It’s not Jesus plus serving and giving to charity. It is Jesus alone. It is by grace through faith.
If you’ve never trusted in Jesus as your Savior, what is holding you back? He is open and waiting for you to turn to Him. If you have trusted in Jesus, are you resting in the grace of His salvation, or are you trying to earn your salvation? In Christ, all striving can cease. We can rest in His complete provision and gift.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you that salvation is by grace through faith and that I don’t have to spend my days seeking to earn your favor and approval. Amen.