July 22, 2023
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV — For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Grace is a common biblical and theological theme throughout the written record of Scripture. The Bible speaks of grace in various instances:
Grace as a common greeting (Romans 1:7 & Ephesians 1:2).
Grace as a means of purity displayed in a person’s speech (Proverbs 22:11 & Colossians 4:6).
Grace shown as a measure of God’s universal goodness to all creatures through common grace (Psalm 145:9).
Grace as a portrayal of finding favor in the sight of humanity (Esther 2:17).
Grace demonstrated as an ornament worn through possessing godly wisdom that gives way unto godly living (Proverbs 4:7-9).
The concept of grace mentioned here in Ephesians 2:8 is expressed as grace that saves the condition of the human soul.
Saving Grace Defined
What is saving grace?
Sam’s Storms acclaims that “saving grace is the free and unmerited operation of God’s person and presence that initiates the spiritual life of God’s people. God’s saving grace is the unmerited favor of God that reconciles sinners through Jesus Christ.” 1
Grace is wholly of God to move on the account of sinful mankind as a demonstration of His goodness. God demonstrated His grace by granting unto us what we do not deserve. As violators of God’s law and holiness, all of humanity stood under condemnation. We rightfully deserved to face the consequences for our sinful actions. In light of who God is, He was moved with pity toward the human race as a result of knowing our frailty (cf. Psalm 103:13-14). God in His omniscience knew that our frail condition would keep us in a state of being morally weak and vulnerable to the temptation of evil pursuits. Therefore, His infinite knowledge in connection with His divine will and purpose moved God to act on our behalf of making grace and mercy available to all who would believe.
John Gill articulated the outward frame of our bodies are brittle earthen vessels. God as our Creator knows everything about us. He knows the inward frame of our minds, the corruption of our nature, how prone we are to sin, and how impotent we are to do that which is good. He knows that we are incapable of living up to His standard apart from Him since He knows our evil tendencies, which causes us to sin. 6
"God's intimate knowledge of His created beings affirms their origin and frailty." 2
It should be understood that the weakness of humanity should never be used as a platform to justify our sin. Our frailty should not be used as a license to engage in wickedness because in doing so it undermines the fact that God took our weaknesses into consideration to act on our account by granting unto us the demonstration of His grace and mercy.
In our weakened state, God elected to intervene on the world’s behalf by giving us His Son to redeem all who would believe in His name (cf. John 3:16). Such a selfless act of giving His Son as the embodiment of grace reveals that He was and is willing to show forth His unmerited favor toward those who trust in His provisionary means through the avenue of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.
Salvation Is Of Divine Origin
Since the very beginning of time, humanity has been seeking methods of trying to obtain redemption from sinfulness through faith and works. Many individuals have fabricated system driven approaches as an attempt to reach the desire to achieve salvation or freedom from guilt and shame. These type of approaches are human-centered and goes against the order of God.
Early on in human history, works of the flesh and faith have been opposing views as to what pleases God. Genesis Ch. 4 records where brothers Cain and Abel both presented offerings before the Lord. One offering was deemed acceptable unto the Lord, whereas, the other offering was rejected. Abel’s offering to God was given through faith and accepted by God in accordance to what God apparently had revealed unto them at some point in their lives. While, Cain’s offering was given to God on the basis of human effort and ritualism as a means of trying to please God.
From the beginning of time, God has always been moved by genuine faith toward those who adhere to His way and His instruction. On the other hand, God rejects the outward expression of those who try to please Him through human effort, merit, ritualism, and ways that subsist outside of what He has deemed appropriate.
Anything that is not rooted in authentic faith brings dissatisfaction to God because it undermines His order.
People who operate through humanized means as a standard to please God can never honor Him through their inadequate motives. Such motives are geared toward exalting their own ways over the ways of God. In doing so, it is a declaration to exalt their standard over the standard of God which inevitably leads them astray.
This same sentiment is true in Genesis pertaining to Adam and Eve after they fell from grace. The first humans tied fig leaves together to cover their nakedness after their eyes were opened to know the difference between good and evil as a result of eating of the forbidden tree. Consequently, they fell short of God’s standard, but God displayed grace toward them by searching for Adam and Eve in the garden. Upon encountering them, He instructed them that the figs leaves were not sufficient covering. Thus, His act of providing the skins of an innocent animal through bloodshed symbolized the appropriate covering to atone for their sins (Genesis 3:8-21).
The fig covering symbolized what was unacceptable before God as a result of its human origin and the skin covering represented what God required as acceptable because of its divine origin.
Equivalently, Paul addressed this similar notion that faith is what pleases God, whereas, work-based approaches to God can never bring satisfaction. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul makes a stark contrast that salvation is the end result of saving faith as opposed to works of the flesh.
Essentially, he denotes that salvation is a divine concept that comes down vertically from God in opposition to being derived horizontal from mankind.
The Apostle Paul declares from the summation of his penmanship that salvation originates from God as a free gift.
Salvation is a free gift because it is a divine process initiated by God, designed by God, orchestrated by God, instituted by God and given by God.
God alone is the source of salvation that has made redemption available to a lost world through the personage of Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV — But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Regardless of our sinful condition, God’s love was graciously displayed to the undeserving, to the unworthy, and to the unjust at cross.
"Andrew Murray stated, salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ." 5
Salvation is of grace through faith in the bloody cross of Calvary. The free gift of God that offers salvation is afforded to every person who repent of their sins, believe in Jesus as the sacrifice given for sin, and confess Jesus as Savior. Thus, being a recipient of saving grace. God’s salvation is a free gift that results in individuals being gifted with eternal life by exercising faith in His plan of redemption as opposed to trusting in their own human abilities.
The free gift of salvation is freely given to whoever will freely receive what God has given.
Saving grace is exclusive to those who have placed their faith in Jesus as the manifestation of salvation. God longs that all of the human race would become recipients of saving grace through faith. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 is written "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
God yearns for all people to be saved, yet everyone will not be saved. The eternal purpose of God in sending His Son into the world to die gives way for anyone to be saved as they exercise faith in Him. However, everyone is not willing to believe in the free gift because of their rejection of Him. God desires for all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of His saving grace but His desire will not override the human will nor His eternal purpose. God does not save people against their own will (those who reject Him), nor will God act against or outside of His eternal purposes.
John MacArthur acknowledged "the word “desires” is not that which normally expresses God’s will of decree which is His eternal purpose, but God’s will of desire. There is a distinction between God’s desire and His eternal saving purpose. His eternal purposes must transcend His desires. God does not want men to sin. He hates sin with all His being (Pss. 5:4; 45:7); thus, He hates its consequences—eternal wickedness in hell. God does not want people to remain wicked forever in eternal remorse and hatred of Himself. Yet, God, for His own glory, and to manifest that glory in wrath, chose to endure “vessels…prepared for destruction” for the supreme fulfillment of His will (Rom. 9:22). In His eternal purpose, He chose only the elect out of the world (John 17:6) and passed over the rest, leaving them to the consequences of their sin, unbelief, and rejection of Christ. Ultimately, God’s choices are determined by His sovereign, eternal purpose, not His desires." 3
In that salvation is free for humanity, it reveals that the price has already been paid through the precious blood of Christ in alignment with God’s eternal purpose. The only thing that humanity must do is repent, confess, and believe under the conviction of the Holy Spirit as they are being drawn to God by way of Jesus. The rejection of the free gift leads to a person’s spirit ruin and demise but faith in the gift of God leads a person to life everlasting on the basis of their faith in Jesus.
Romans 6:23 NKJV — For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
"Spiritual death is the paycheck for every man’s slavery to sin; and eternal life is a free gift God gives undeserving sinners who believe in His Son." 3
Matthew Henry adds "and this gift is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ purchased it, prepared it, prepares us for it, preserves us to it; He is the All in all in our salvation." 4
Therefore, Paul affirms that salvation is not a product of human works. We cannot contribute anything to being saved, thus, we have no right to boast about works of the flesh. Titus 3:5-7 reveals that salvation is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
God’s grace is depicted by what He does and not what we do or seek to contribute relating to salvation.
Grace entails that God did everything to secure our salvation by providing a way to escape condemnation, His wrath, eternal judgment, and eternal separation by our faith in Jesus. David Jeremiah mentioned that "saving us is the greatest and most concrete demonstration of God’s love, the definitive display of His grace throughout time and eternity." 5
Jesus is the embodiment of salvation, the way of salvation, and the ransom for salvation. Salvation equates to knowing Jesus through saving grace in connection with sincere faith. Salvation is in Christ alone by grace through faith.
References
The Holman KJV Study Bible
The MacArthur Study Bible
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/20-awesome-quotes-salvation/
John Gill's Exposition Of The Bible