‘By Grace’

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.

Ephesians 2:8,9

We arrive today at one of the great summary statements of salvation.  Because it does summarize salvation in such a clear and unmistakable way, we want to savor every morsel of this well-prepared meal.  In the previous verses, Paul has explained our natural state and condition of being ‘dead in trespasses and sins;’ of our being ‘by nature the children of wrath;’ and of our being ‘made alive together with Christ.’  At the point he mentioned our being ‘made alive together with Christ,’ he foreshadowed our text for today with a small aside, saying ‘by grace you are saved.’  Today, he articulates that more fully.  Paul wants the Ephesians and us, to understand that salvation is all of grace, and all of God.  Therefore, he reiterates this truth, in as many ways as possible.  This puts the knife into the heart of our pride.  In salvation, God has extended to us grace of the greatest magnitude.  Our testimony is, ‘For nothing good have I, whereby Thy Grace to claim.’  If we are going to consider salvation rightly, we begin where He does, with grace and grace alone.  This will ultimately bring us to the Person and Work of Christ.  He is the ultimate manifestation of this Divine Grace of which we have been speaking.  In the matter of salvation, we must ever speak of God’s amazing grace to us.

Our most Gracious God,
we rejoice that You have manifested unto us
an abundance of grace.
We praise You that You have saved us
and for that we will ever give You glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning