"For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10
If we ask a botanist how a plant grows, they will tell us that it needs moisture, nutrients, sun light, etc., which is true. Yet, Scripture says that God causes the plants to grow. The reality is that God is the primary cause for how plants grow and the scientific information, ordained by God, is the secondary cause for how plants grow. The same reality of truth is found in this passage of Scripture. Grace is the primary cause of our salvation. Faith is the secondary cause. Grace is the means by which God grants us salvation, whereas faith is the instrument or vessel by which God has chosen to bestow it. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him."
The words, used twice in chapter two of Ephesians, are very clear: "For by grace are ye saved." You are not saved by your faith. Faith is a work in which you can boast. Essentially, God said, "I will save you by My grace, but I want you to exercise faith in order to lay hold upon it." God will get all the glory—you will get none of it. Your confession of faith means absolutely nothing, as you will see in Jesus' words from Matthew 7 with those who called Him "Lord, Lord." Jesus has many disciples, but not every disciple of Jesus is a true, biblical, born again Christian. There are many who name the name of the Lord but have neglected to actually get saved. They know of Jesus, but He does not know them. Having any old faith won't save you. You need the right kind of faith—the kind that agrees with God and results in continuous repentance for the rest of your life, conforming to the image of Jesus Christ.
Salvation is God's work in you and He saves you by His grace. This should cause you to marvel at His loving-kindness and to bow down before His majesty and worship Him for granting you something you do not deserve to have. To think you deserve it in any way or that you have earned it by anything you have done is the ugly face of pride exalting itself in your life. You deserve hell and nothing but hell, but God has graciously saved you for His glory.
"As you have received the Lord Christ Jesus, so walk in Him."
If we ask a botanist how a plant grows, they will tell us that it needs moisture, nutrients, sun light, etc., which is true. Yet, Scripture says that God causes the plants to grow. The reality is that God is the primary cause for how plants grow and the scientific information, ordained by God, is the secondary cause for how plants grow. The same reality of truth is found in this passage of Scripture. Grace is the primary cause of our salvation. Faith is the secondary cause. Grace is the means by which God grants us salvation, whereas faith is the instrument or vessel by which God has chosen to bestow it. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him."
The words, used twice in chapter two of Ephesians, are very clear: "For by grace are ye saved." You are not saved by your faith. Faith is a work in which you can boast. Essentially, God said, "I will save you by My grace, but I want you to exercise faith in order to lay hold upon it." God will get all the glory—you will get none of it. Your confession of faith means absolutely nothing, as you will see in Jesus' words from Matthew 7 with those who called Him "Lord, Lord." Jesus has many disciples, but not every disciple of Jesus is a true, biblical, born again Christian. There are many who name the name of the Lord but have neglected to actually get saved. They know of Jesus, but He does not know them. Having any old faith won't save you. You need the right kind of faith—the kind that agrees with God and results in continuous repentance for the rest of your life, conforming to the image of Jesus Christ.
Salvation is God's work in you and He saves you by His grace. This should cause you to marvel at His loving-kindness and to bow down before His majesty and worship Him for granting you something you do not deserve to have. To think you deserve it in any way or that you have earned it by anything you have done is the ugly face of pride exalting itself in your life. You deserve hell and nothing but hell, but God has graciously saved you for His glory.
"As you have received the Lord Christ Jesus, so walk in Him."