"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."
Eph. 2:8-9
Eph. 2:8-9
While reading a Christian forum recently, I was amazed to see, once again, Christian brothers and sisters almost get it right, then lose it at the end.
What am I talking about? The act of salvation of man, and man's role in such.
These people admitted to certain points that would be called "Calvinistic" by some. They got these points right. Then, they messed it all up by stating that man must still make the free will choice to be saved.
Bzzzzt! Wrong answer...thanks for playing, but you don't win what's behind door number two.
Now, this doesn't mean they aren't saved. As a matter of fact, the very part that they are getting wrong is the part that ensures that they are, in fact, saved.
So, let's take a look at one passage of scripture that could very easily be considered the summary of the process of being saved.
"through faith" - This is the passage by which the gift of grace, your salvation, is delivered. Two points about this faith. The first is, we do not possess it of our own accord. In fact, let's see what Jesus Himself had to say about faith:
What am I talking about? The act of salvation of man, and man's role in such.
These people admitted to certain points that would be called "Calvinistic" by some. They got these points right. Then, they messed it all up by stating that man must still make the free will choice to be saved.
Bzzzzt! Wrong answer...thanks for playing, but you don't win what's behind door number two.
Now, this doesn't mean they aren't saved. As a matter of fact, the very part that they are getting wrong is the part that ensures that they are, in fact, saved.
So, let's take a look at one passage of scripture that could very easily be considered the summary of the process of being saved.
"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."
Eph. 2:8-9
Eph. 2:8-9
"For by grace" - In other words, this process that is being talked about (salvation) is produced by grace. Grace is defined in the dictionary as "a favor rendered by one who need not do so." Grace is a free effort, that has no requirement driving it to be given. God chose to make an effort--to render a gift, a favor--where no person deserved such an effort to be made.
"are ye saved" - In a more modern rendering, this would read as "you are saved." It means the same thing either way. Your salvation, your forgiveness in the eyes of God Almighty, your adoption into His Family by the work of His Son Jesus...this is the result of God's grace.
"are ye saved" - In a more modern rendering, this would read as "you are saved." It means the same thing either way. Your salvation, your forgiveness in the eyes of God Almighty, your adoption into His Family by the work of His Son Jesus...this is the result of God's grace.
"through faith" - This is the passage by which the gift of grace, your salvation, is delivered. Two points about this faith. The first is, we do not possess it of our own accord. In fact, let's see what Jesus Himself had to say about faith:
"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
"And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
"Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
Luke 17:5-10
"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
"But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
"And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
"Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
Luke 17:5-10
Jesus told them that if they had even the smallest portion of faith, they could command the tree to pull itself out of the ground and go reroot itself in the sea and it would obey.
Jesus even goes a step farther, and shows how it is not the place of the servant to be in a position of authority. The servant knows his place, and does what he is commanded to do.
Faith is the right and the balliwick of God Almighty. He portions it out when and where He chooses, in accordance with His will.
"and that not of yourselves" - Paul is making the point crystal clear. The process of salvation by faith through grace is in no wise originating from you. All of the process, each and every step, has the common factor of not coming from the person being saved. Why?
"[it is] the gift of God" - If salvation had anything whatsoever to do with the person involved, it could not, would not, be a gift from God. Say two people are building a boat. When they finish the job, one turns to the other and says, "Here, I'm giving you this boat as a gift." Wouldn't that be somewhat stupid to say? After all, part of the boat was already the second person's property. How can you give what you don't possess? How could you think to claim what isn't yours?
Yet, misguided people still try to do that very thing. They are dead to God, yet He gives them a new life in the spirit. His Son pays off their sin debt. God does it all. So, what does the saved person say? Does he do as Jesus said to do? Does he say, "I am an unprofitable servant: I have done that which was my duty to do."?
Nope. The misguided Christian, after having all this done for him as a gift, says, "I'm just so happy that I chose to follow Jesus. It just makes me proud to know I decided to let Him into my heart."
"Not of works" - Salvation has absolutely NOTHING to do with what you do! It makes not a single bit of difference to God if you are a good person. It makes no difference if you go to church every Sunday. He doesn't care if you give the tithe every week. Nothing, nothing, NOTHING you do, oh, little man, does anything to influence God in giving or not giving salvation. Why not?
"lest any man should boast" - First and foremost, God wants His adopted children to understand that HE is the author of your salvation. He wants the glory for what He has done. The first step towards true worship is to know why you should worship. Look at what satan did to bring about his expulsion from his position in heaven:
What do the sayings of satan (I will ascend...) and a misguided Christian (I will decide) have in common?
Jesus even goes a step farther, and shows how it is not the place of the servant to be in a position of authority. The servant knows his place, and does what he is commanded to do.
Faith is the right and the balliwick of God Almighty. He portions it out when and where He chooses, in accordance with His will.
"and that not of yourselves" - Paul is making the point crystal clear. The process of salvation by faith through grace is in no wise originating from you. All of the process, each and every step, has the common factor of not coming from the person being saved. Why?
"[it is] the gift of God" - If salvation had anything whatsoever to do with the person involved, it could not, would not, be a gift from God. Say two people are building a boat. When they finish the job, one turns to the other and says, "Here, I'm giving you this boat as a gift." Wouldn't that be somewhat stupid to say? After all, part of the boat was already the second person's property. How can you give what you don't possess? How could you think to claim what isn't yours?
Yet, misguided people still try to do that very thing. They are dead to God, yet He gives them a new life in the spirit. His Son pays off their sin debt. God does it all. So, what does the saved person say? Does he do as Jesus said to do? Does he say, "I am an unprofitable servant: I have done that which was my duty to do."?
Nope. The misguided Christian, after having all this done for him as a gift, says, "I'm just so happy that I chose to follow Jesus. It just makes me proud to know I decided to let Him into my heart."
"Not of works" - Salvation has absolutely NOTHING to do with what you do! It makes not a single bit of difference to God if you are a good person. It makes no difference if you go to church every Sunday. He doesn't care if you give the tithe every week. Nothing, nothing, NOTHING you do, oh, little man, does anything to influence God in giving or not giving salvation. Why not?
"lest any man should boast" - First and foremost, God wants His adopted children to understand that HE is the author of your salvation. He wants the glory for what He has done. The first step towards true worship is to know why you should worship. Look at what satan did to bring about his expulsion from his position in heaven:
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Isa. 14:12-14
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Isa. 14:12-14
What do the sayings of satan (I will ascend...) and a misguided Christian (I will decide) have in common?
EGO!
This is something that God, rightfully, does not want from His children.
Think about it: God made heaven and earth, made man, gave a way for man to remain close to Him, gave gifts of land, food, security to His people, allowed His Son to be killed to pay for our sins, is making a place at His table in His house for us for all eternity. Is it really so much for God to desire the recognizition for His works?
There it is, laid out on a silver platter, so to speak, for all to see. Many people will find this offensive. Good. Many will get mad about not being part of their own salvation. Great. Some will think me blasphemous, stupid or "hyper". Thank you! I appreciate that. Because, it is exactly what the Bible is saying. It glorifies God our Father. It magnifies Jesus Christ, our Savior. It puts us exactly in the position we belong in--servants, doing our duty because it is what we were commanded to do.
Praise be to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ forever!
Grace and Peace....
Think about it: God made heaven and earth, made man, gave a way for man to remain close to Him, gave gifts of land, food, security to His people, allowed His Son to be killed to pay for our sins, is making a place at His table in His house for us for all eternity. Is it really so much for God to desire the recognizition for His works?
There it is, laid out on a silver platter, so to speak, for all to see. Many people will find this offensive. Good. Many will get mad about not being part of their own salvation. Great. Some will think me blasphemous, stupid or "hyper". Thank you! I appreciate that. Because, it is exactly what the Bible is saying. It glorifies God our Father. It magnifies Jesus Christ, our Savior. It puts us exactly in the position we belong in--servants, doing our duty because it is what we were commanded to do.
Praise be to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ forever!
Grace and Peace....
