THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 84 Saved By Grace—Through Faith (Parts 1 And 2)
"8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV).
Introduction
Loved ones, Satan is doing all he can in our Spiritual Battle to deceive mankind concerning being saved by grace through faith. There is no theme in which man should be more interested than that of the grace of God. In the physical realm all that we have in this life is an expression of God's grace, or favor toward us. All material blessings—the sunshine that brightens our pathway, the rain that cools the breezes of summer—the food we eat—the water we drink—all these might be correctly labeled: "The Grace of God Toward Man." For His grace in the material world, we should, indeed, be exceedingly grateful. However, it is about the grace of God in the spiritual realm that we desire to speak.
Our text was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christians meeting together in Ephesus. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he says man is SAVED BY GRACE. Our text declares this fact in unmistakable terms. Many other Scriptures which teach the same truth could be cited.
Without the mercy and grace of God, you and I would be eternally and irrevocably condemned to the habitation of the damned (cf. Romans 6:23). Thank God, for His wonderful goodness to us; that through His bountiful mercy and grace we may escape the fate of the lost, and find rest and peace in the realm of the blest. Eternity will be too short for the redeemed to adequately praise Him for His unspeakable gift.
Christ clearly is the “channel” of God’s saving grace in the Ephesian epistle. Nineteen times in the first two chapters Paul wrote of our being positioned in Christ, where we enjoy every spiritual blessing, especially “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:3, 7).
Further, God “…hath quickened us [made us alive - ASV] together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). It is only “in” and “together with Christ” that God’s saving grace comes to us. God has come among men that “He might show the exceeding riches of his grace and His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).
Grace is inherently “undeserved.” The favor of God’s saving grace is seen in God GIVING man the life he could NOT give himself (John 14:6; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20). God’s gracious gift of sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins is not something God owed us, nor was it anything that we could ever deserve or bring to be on our own. However, the fact that we can do nothing to deserve God’s grace through Christ does not mean that there is nothing we have to do to acquire this grace.
Some false teaching men contend that Ephesians 2:8-9 eliminates any human activity in order to obtain or receive God’s grace. However, what Paul is really saying is that it is beyond the ability of mankind to merit in any way the grace of God’s gift in sending Christ to die for our sins.
Saved By Grace
That we are saved by grace—and that no one can be saved except by grace—is too clearly taught in the Bible to be questioned by anyone who accepts that Book as the Revelation of God. But will all to whom God's grace is offered be saved?
In thinking of how to be saved, is grace the only thing that need concern us? If so, then all will be saved. Hear Paul again: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). Notice that the grace which has appeared to all men is the grace that brings salvation—NOT grace that gives material things.
However, the Bible clearly teaches that many will be lost. Jesus said: “He that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). From this we see that man's faith (or belief) has something to do with his salvation. In fact, the very text we are studying says as much: “For by grace are ye saved through faith."
This text suggests the two sides to the plan of salvation—God's side and man's side. God's grace is accepted by man's faith. "We have access by faith into this grace," says Paul to the Romans in chapter 5 verse 2. God's grace is freely given for the whole world. It is capable of saving every person who has ever lived, or will ever live, upon the earth; but only those who accept His grace, through faith, will be saved.
"By grace—through faith." It is grace that saves, but faith is the means by which grace is reached. Grace saves, but faith applies grace to man. Food satisfies hunger, but it takes eating to apply the food. Water quenches thirst, but only the thirst of the person who drinks it. So grace saves —but only the person who applies it through faith.
Salvation is God's gift to man, but it is not an unconditional gift. Life is God's gift, but it is given through the laws of procreation. The maintenance of life is God's gift; but it is given through our eating, drinking, and caring for the body. We may forfeit this gift by failing to comply with the conditions of the gift.
Sight is a gift of God, but we see by opening our eyes. Jesus tells us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). But we may starve to death while so praying. We get our daily bread through labor. Bread is God's gift—God's grace—but man has access to that gift through tilling the soil. We need have no worry about God's grace. It is here for all. God's part in man's redemption is perfectly done. All failures will be due to the failures of man—to failures of faith.
Saved Through Faith
How are we saved through faith? What kind of faith does it take to reach God's grace? Noah found grace in the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8), and by faith he did what God told him to do, “preparing an ark to the saving of his house” (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:22).
Did Noah’s doing what God told him to do negate the grace God offered, making a way for him to escape the condemnation God brought upon the world? Absolutely not! Would God have saved Noah if he had refused to do what God commanded him to do? Certainly not! Only when Noah cooperated by obeying the Lord was he saved by grace. Obedience is not “entering” or “meriting” salvation, it is receiving or acquiring the grace God offers in his appointed way.
James tells us that "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17). Certainly no one can be saved by a dead faith. John 12:42-43 tells of many of the chief rulers in the synagogue of Jesus' time who believed on Him, but would not confess Him, because “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” These people believed—they had faith—but we are sure they were not saved. In fact, James says the devils believe (James 2:10), but we know they are not saved.
What kind of faith then must we have to avail ourselves of God's grace? Paul teaches in Galatians 5:6 that the faith that avails is, "faith that works by love." Certainly, then, when the same apostle says, we are saved by grace through faith, he meant a working faith. Putting together these truths of Holy Writ, we conclude that men are saved by God's grace through exercising a living, loving, working, obedient faith (cf. Romans 1:6; Philippians 2:12).
The Church Of Christ Meeting In Ephesus
We need not conjecture about what the apostle means by being saved by grace through faith. We have the matter demonstrated for us in the salvation of the people at Ephesus. Remember, Paul addressed the Ephesian Christians, when he said: "By grace are ye saved through faith." If we can learn what these very people did in being saved, we will then know what it means to be saved by grace through faith.
Turn with me to Ephesians 1:13. Here we learn that the people at Ephesus heard the gospel. But they were saved by grace through faith. We, therefore, conclude that in being saved by grace through faith, we hear the gospel. The same verse also tells us that the Ephesians believed in Christ. So, we decide that in being saved by grace through faith, we must believe in Christ.
Now, let's turn to the 20th chapter of Acts of the Apostles. Paul is here addressing the elders of the church at Ephesus. He is recounting his work among the Ephesians. In the 21st verse, he says: "Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." The people at Ephesus were taught to repent. But they were saved by grace through faith. Hence, in being saved by grace through faith, men must repent.
In Acts 19:17-18, we read more about the people at Ephesus. There it is said that "many who believed came, and confessed" Christ. Thus, we decide that in being saved by grace through faith, confession is made. If we go to the first few verses of the 19th chapter of Acts, we read of the beginning of the church at Ephesus. We have here a record of the first people to be converted to Christ at this place. And the fifth verse says they "were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
To these same Ephesians, Paul said, "One Lord, one faith and one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). Let us not forget that he is talking to the same people who were said to have been saved by grace through faith. Are we not safe in concluding that in being saved by grace through faith, we must be baptized?
This is a point which we are very anxious to make clear. We want every reader to thoroughly understand it. The Word of God says the people at Ephesus were saved by grace through faith. Then the Word of God tells us what these same people did in being saved. They heard the gospel—they believed in Christ—they repented of their sins—they confessed Christ—and they were baptized. Then, is this not the way to be saved by grace through faith?
Since God's grace is offered to all men—suppose a man today hears the gospel, believes in Christ, repents of his sins, confesses faith in Christ, and is baptized into Christ—will he not be saved by grace through faith?
The Bible is its own best interpreter. We are afraid of man's interpretations of God's Word. On this matter, dear friends, we think you can see that we have allowed the Bible to interpret itself. We have allowed the grand old Apostle Paul to tell us exactly what he means by being saved by grace through faith. And since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), we can know that this is the way He will save everyone who is saved. To be continued…
SAVED BY GRACE—THROUGH FAITH (Part 2)
"8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV).
Loved ones, having settled this matter by the Bible itself, we want now to go back to the book of Titus, and notice again a quotation used in part one the lesson. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). Now let's read the next verse: "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world" (v. 12). From this we see that when the grace of God appears to men, it teaches.
Now how does God call and teach man? Is it not through His gospel? (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:14). In fact, we are safe in saying that— so far as man's salvation is concerned— whatever the Bible ascribes to grace, it also ascribes to the gospel. We mean, that whatever the Bible says grace does — it also says the gospel does that same thing.
We cite a few examples: Romans 5:2 says we stand in grace. 1 Corinthians 15:1 says we stand in the gospel. Ephesians 2:5 says we are saved by grace. 1 Corinthians 15:2 says we are saved by the gospel. Acts 20:32 refers to "the word of grace." Acts 15:7 uses the expression, "word of the gospel." Titus 2:11 says grace has appeared to all men. Colossians 1:23 says the gospel had been preached to all men.
In Galatians 1:6 Paul uses the words "grace" and "gospel" synonymously. Hear him: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel." Notice the contrast between the "grace of Christ" and "ANOTHER gospel." The opposite of the grace of Christ is "another gospel." Hence, the grace of Christ and the gospel of Christ, in this passage, are synonymous.
God's grace has appeared to all men, teaching them. How? Through the gospel of Christ. The reason God's grace could be said to have appeared to all men is that the gospel had been preached to all. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, authorizing the apostles to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15), he was, thereby, sending the grace of God to all creatures.
The grace of God that brings salvation goes to the entire world, through the preaching of the gospel. Men are saved by grace when they accept the gospel through faith. In this way, men are saved by grace through faith. This is God's plan of salvation for the whole world. All who are saved must be saved in this way.
In John 1:17, we read: "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Note the close proximity between "grace" and "truth." The gospel is truth (Ephesians 1:13; John 17:17). Grace is carried to man through the truth of the gospel (Colossians 1:5).
We are saved by the life of Christ (Romans 5:10). Christ's life is an expression of God's grace. We learn of His life through the gospel. We are saved by the death of Christ (Romans 5:8). We know of His death through the gospel revelation. It is through the gospel that we learn that He shed His blood for us. 1 Corinthians 1:21 says, "It pleased God" to save believers through preaching. The only thing a man of God can preach is the gospel. The curse of heaven rests upon everyone who preaches anything else (Galatians 1:6-7).
Thus, we see that the grace of God is revealed to man through the preaching of the gospel. As man hears the gospel preached, and through faith obeys it, he is saved by grace through faith.
In stressing what man must do to be saved, we have not forgotten that man is not saved by his own righteousness. Our text also says: "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:9). There is no work that a man can do which will merit salvation. Man does not earn his way to heaven. If he did, it would not be by God's grace, or favor. It is still true, as Isaiah, the prophet said: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).
The Bible makes a distinction between man's righteousness and the righteousness of God. Of the Israelites of his day, Paul said: "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). But to do that which God commands is not to depend on our own works, or righteousness. Jesus said that for man to believe is a work of God (John 6:29). While to believe is an act of man, it is declared by Jesus to be a work of God. This is also true of anything which God has commanded.
Paul declared in Romans 5:21 that grace "reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." In Psalm 119:172 we are told that all of God's commands are righteousness. From Romans 1:16-17 we learn that the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel. From these statements of Holy Writ we conclude that, by grace we are fitted for eternal life, through the commands of God revealed in the gospel.
Let us not confuse man's works of self-righteousness with obedience to the commands of God. To obey God's commands in order to be saved by His grace is, in no sense, depending upon our own righteousness.
An old Indian preacher gave this crude illustration of salvation by grace. It was in the fall of the year. Standing in the woods, he raked the leaves from a spot on the ground. In this bare place there was a bug crawling about. The Indian set fire to the leaves all around the bug. The bug could not, by himself, get out. The Indian held a stick in his hand. He placed one end of the stick near the bug. The bug climbed out on the stick. The Indian said: "Me save bug by grace. Man lost in sin—can't get out—God hand him gospel—but man must take hold of gospel." Crude though this illustration may be, the idea back of it is correct.
It is related that a man once fell over Niagara Falls. He managed to catch on a ledge of rock, far below. He could not save himself. Neither could those above save him by letting a rope down to him. Being back under a ledge, the rope would not reach him. It was necessary that someone go down on a rope, swing over to the unfortunate man, taking the rope to him.
Finally, a volunteer for the task came forward. He descended on the rope, succeeded in swinging over to where the marooned man stood, and gave him an opportunity to take hold and be saved. Who would say this man was not being saved by others? Still, he had to grasp the saving means which were brought to him.
Man was lost in sin. He could not save himself. From the glorious heights of heaven, God sent His beloved Son to earth, bringing the means of man's salvation. The Son of God, with the power to save in His hand, pleads for lost man to come unto Him and be saved. This is God's grace, brought to us by the heaven's greatest love and sacrifice. My friend, will you, by faith, take hold of this wonderful grace of God, and be saved?
In the gracious tones of heaven's love, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
Conclusion
As a Christian, we can sing: "Amazing grace—how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost—but now am found— Was blind, but now I see."
And then: "Someday the silver cord will break, And I no more as now shall sing; But O the joy when I shall wake Within the palace of the King. And I shall see Him Face to face, And tell the story — Saved by grace."
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).