Thursday: Now Saved by God
Read back through Ephesians 2:1-10, focusing on Paul’s conclusion in verses 8-10. What points does he highlight as he concludes the passage?
In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul documents that the salvation of the believers in Ephesus does not occur because of their good behavior or winsome qualities.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
When the story begins, they are spiritually dead. There’s not a spark of life or worth in them (Ephesians 2:1). They have been utterly conquered by sin (Ephesians 2:1). They exhibit no personal initiative but are led around by Satan himself and by their own base passions and mental delusions (Ephesians 2:2-3).
Unknown to them, they are in a far worse position than simply being without spiritual life or virtue. In company with all humankind, they are the enemies of the true God and are moving toward a day of destiny and divine judgment. They are “children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 2:3, ESV).
Instead of being rooted in their own qualities, their salvation is rooted in God’s inexplicable love — a love that cannot be explained based on any worth in the object of that love. In mercy and love, God acts on their behalf in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4), resurrecting them from spiritual death. Because of God’s intervention, they experience an amazing itinerary that follows the trajectory of Jesus Himself. From the extreme depth of utter spiritual death and grinding slavery, they are resurrected and conveyed to the “heavenly places” and seated with Christ on the cosmic throne (Ephesians 2:5-6). This lightning-like, divine intervention, though, is no momentary phenomenon. It has real staying power, eternal durability, because God intends to exhibit His grace toward them in Christ Jesus throughout all eternity (Ephesians 2:7-8).
In his conclusion to , verses 8-10, Paul goes back over this ground, wishing to ensure that his point sticks: the salvation of believers is a divine work, not a human one. It does not originate in us but in God’s gift. No human being can boast of having sparked it (Ephesians 2:8-9). Standing in the grace of God, we believers are exhibits of His grace, and only of His grace. We are His masterpieces, created by God “in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10).
| Why is it so important for us to understand that our salvation is from God and is not rooted in our own worth or efforts? |
(16)
In our discussion of grace and salvation we read verses 8 and 9 with enthusiasm. This is Protestant Christianity at its core. Martin Luther quoted it in his defense and we use it likewise when indulging in Christian apologetics. It is a grand and noble statement.
Then comes verse 10.
In science, we often talk about "cause and effect". Typically we see an effect like the movement of pieces of iron and study to find the cause, magnetism. And then we build mathematical models of how the cause and its effects relate to one another. Sometimes we have seen effects and it has taken a long time to discover the cause. For example, it was noted that the orbit of Uranus perturbated (changed slightly from its predicted path) and this led to the discovery of the planet Neptune. The observation of an effect led to the discovery of the cause.
Ephesians 2:8,9 give us the root "cause" of our salvation, but vs 10 gives us the effect.
The really important thing to note is that this "good works" bit is really what God had intended all along. Grace has restored us to the original plan.
Signficantly, this grace, salvation thing is not just a mental assent moment, nor is it about reservations of heavenly real estate. It is not even about seeking out sin in our lives. It is about restoration and fulfilling our lives with good works in Christ.
Remember, Jesus said:
Cause and Effect!
Hi Maurice – I appreciate your comment, though with all due respect, would you kindly consider that Eph.2:10 cannot be separated from Eph:2:8-9 as it regards ‘cause’ as these are all expressions of God’s Grace - their source?
If you would, please, consider that everything contained in these verses are the expressions of God’s Grace – Love and Grace being the only true cause which can move ‘free will-haven-and-earth' forward in harmony -, then you will see that man has nothing within himself which can show the ‘effect’ of Grace other than his willingness to be moved by Grace to have and experience life.
All that man is is a vessel to express God’s Love and Grace. “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus" to allow Him to express Himself through us; this is the design chosen for man before he was; the life of man is not his own - Jeremia 10:23KJV.
Because God’s design formed us in this way for such a purpose, through His Grace we are able to be the vessel for to express God’s “good works". His Grace and Love remain the only cause which can show their effect through the chosen Ekklesia and so bring Honor and Glory to God, its source.
A while back you used an interesting scientific word expressing the effect when separate entities ‘come together to reveal something ‘new’; the ‘new’ being ‘greater’ than the effect of the parts when existing/operating separately from each other.
I see man’s life uniting with God’s Grace and Love in this same way, based on this same principle. The living soul becomes united with God’s Love and Grace in order to effectually become the vessel of God for His creative power to birth/rebirth all spiritual and physical life, and so establishing the foundation for man to be able to expirience life in His Creator Jesus Christ.
I think you are probably agreeing with what I am saying, Brigitte.
In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul concludes with a powerful assertion in verses 8-10: salvation is a gift from God, received by faith, not by works, so that no one can boast about their merits. He emphasizes that we are God's handiwork, created anew in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us. This underlines that our purpose and life's works are divinely orchestrated, instilling in us a profound sense of mission and reinforcing that we owe everything to God's grace.
Understanding our salvation as a divine gift, not due to our worth or effort, is central to our faith. This understanding liberates us from futile attempts to earn salvation, allowing us to fully grasp God's boundless love and grace. Acknowledging we cannot earn salvation nurtures humility, eliminating pride or self-boasting. Moreover, realizing that salvation is unmerited stirs us to reciprocate God's love through gratitude and service.
It is hard for humans to understand that life is a miracle, that we are not here by chance, and that we are here because of the mercy of God. All we are and have do not belong to us, although we mistakenly think we own something. At the same time, God has freely given us His best, Son, salvation, and gift. Grace. How much can we still lack?
In the Old Testament God set up a system of animal sacrifices by one of the 12 Tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi. Each day and every morning a lamb was killed and every evening another one was killed by those Priests. This was done for thousands and thousands of years until Jesus shows up and takes their place at His Fathers' "Right Hand in Heaven." God has not taken away our ability to choose each day by faith what these killed lambs every day and now what he took in their place and now Ministers for us each and every day now in these last days for us. But we still have to choose it each day like in the Old Testament morning and evening for their salvation and now our salvation by faith They had to do by faith then what we have to do now by faith. Praise God and Jesus and His Holy Spirit.
When we realize the cost of our salvation, and the meaning of grace, our response should be gratitude and praise. Daily we need to ask for the rebaptism of the Holy Spirit so we can live according to God's will for our lives. It's ingratitude to use our grace filled moments to please self. In pleasing self, we are actually serving Satan, who does not deserve our praise. Pray saints for eye salve to see clearly how to walk in the path of righteousness, by God's grace. Amen.
This is a wonderful lesson write-up of the Grace and Love God’s Mercy has exhibited through the Salvation of mankind. The only thought I want to share is that we are not only ‘exhibits’ of His Grace, but even more so able to be exhibitors of His Grace.
Yes, God created us "For Good Works," but in His Vineyard there are many types of "Works" that come because of "Spiritual Gifts." And these can be seen by others as being "Flawless and Sinless and Perfect Works." However, there is a work that is for all of God's people: The work of becoming Sanctified, and Holy, in Character. This has been referred to as also the work of "Sanctification," and also as being "The Work of a Lifetime." Even Ellen White says regarding this work that "The closer we come to Christ, the more faulty we appear because we see clearly our imperfection with clear and distinct views because we see them (with the help of His Holy Spirit) in contrast to His Perfect Flawless Character and our Flawed and Imperfect ones."