Calvary Baptist Bible study: Ephesians 2:8-10

Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone. Part 1: Text: Ephesians 2:8-10

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

When it comes to our eternal destiny, doctrine is everything. When we die, what we believe will be fixed and unchangeable for eternity (read Luke 16:19-31). Many people believe the historical facts about Jesus Christ, but will spend eternity separated from Him (Matthew 7:21-23, 22:14) because they never truly surrendered their lives to His Lordship (Matthew 18:3). Our society believes that God welcomes many different religions and beliefs. Friends, nothing could be further from the truth. That belief represents a “broad road that leads to hell” mindset. For the next few weeks, we want to let the Word of God speak clearly and in no uncertain terms with regard to the doctrine of salvation.

In the first three chapters of his letter to the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul writes to glorify God for the salvation of those in the Ephesus, as well as the Church’s Head, the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). In Chapter 2:1-10, Paul gives a “before and after” summary of their lives. In Ephesians 2:8, he says that God is the originator of saving faith, not sinful human beings.

Friends, no one wakes up one day and simply decides to be a Christian! Saving faith can only happen when God extends His grace to an undeserving, helpless soul who is searching for absolute truth about his Creator. Once understood, this person places his faith in the promises in God’s Word that speaks of Jesus Christ. Try to look at it this way; God’s grace is contained in a room that is locked tight. But when a person repents of their sins and surrenders their life through helpless faith in Jesus Christ, it is through THAT FAITH that represents the “key” that unlocks God’s grace to forgive them of their sins, secure their eternal destiny in Heaven (Ephesians 2:4-7), and guide them through life in this sin-cursed world as they follow Him and live in submission to the teaching of His Word.

Not only do we not initiate our salvation, but also we cannot work for it either. To work means to merit, or to earn. You can’t earn a gift. You can only receive it with gratitude, or refuse it. Moreover, verse 9 tells us that Heaven will be void of anyone who thought they were “good enough” to be there. There will be no pride or boasting in Heaven.

Finally, verse 10 of our text says that we don’t prepare ourselves to work for and serve God; God does, in Christ Jesus. The works and service that true Christians do no longer are done to try to earn them a place in Heaven. They now know that it is futility. Their work and service for God now flows out from within them as an expression of gratitude for what Jesus Christ did in dying on the cross in his place for their helpless souls (Mark 16:16-17). Even if the result of their Christian service is ridicule and mocking, which is certainly more apparent these days, they stand firm and rejoice, knowing that they are blessed from Heaven (Matthew 5:11-12), and that’s all that matters!

Friends, we are all helpless sinners; we cannot save ourselves. Our prayer for you is that if you think otherwise, you would please re-read this text, and ask the Spirit of God to implant in you a heart to seek absolute truth from His Word. Next week’s text will be Galatians 2:20-21.

Steve Visconti