Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."
Text: Ephesians 2:8-9
A GREAT GIFT FROM GOD
Salvation is truly a great gift from God. We must never take this glorious gift for granted. Never must we allow ourselves to take lightly words and phrases, like “the riches of His grace”.
The word “gift” (“doron”) may be included in the semantic field of “grace”. What a wonderful thing it is to be a recipient of God’s good gifts. Salvation tops the list of all His blessings.
WORKS FOR SALVATION PRECLUDED
Knowing the human heart only too well, Paul had to warn against two possible dangers:-
“And that not of yourselves”
This was the first danger. Paul knew enough of both Jewish and Gentiles concepts of salvation to warn against this first danger which may be termed “auto-soterism”.
This concept suggests that the human being can earn his salvation without the grace of God. Some Jews feel that if they were able to keep all of God’s laws then they deserved salvation. Some Gentile religions had similar ideas. The idea of earning enough merit to obtain salvation was an ancient belief held by many. Self-effort leading to auto-soterism continues to be a widely held view today.
“Not of works…”
What was Paul’s frame of reference when he wrote these words?
1. Concept of Good works meriting salvation
He argues against the idea of doing enough good works to merit salvation. In another epistle Paul wrote strenuously.
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works
of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…”
GALATIANS 2:16A
2. Concept of Good works following salvation
These works ought to be maintained carefully. However, these good works do not earn salvation, but evidence it.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good,…
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all…”
GALATIANS 6:9-10
“Lest any man should boast”
What does man have to boast about? He is dead because of his trespasses and sins. He is under deep influence of the evil one. Wherein may man find reason to boast?
Paul was not unfamiliar with this tendency to take pride in one’s achievements. Prior to his conversion, he too was caught up with things that Jews took pride in.
“If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh,
I more so…”
PHILIPPIANS 3:4
Paul had a most enviable pedigree. Nevertheless, he concluded,
“Yet, indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence
of the knowledge of Christ my Lord…”
PHILIPPIANS 3:8