Eph. 2:8-10 - Grace by Faith

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Any man that says he wants to be judged on his deeds does not really understand his total inadequacy!

Vs. 8 - “ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” - 

“For by grace you have been saved...” - A continuation of the same thoughts seen in the previous verses. In verse 7 we saw that God is demonstrating His limitless grace to us in Christ. For it is by this limitless grace we have any hope at all. We do not merit salvation (See: Psa 103:8-12; 130:3-4; 49:7-9)

“Saved” - What disaster are we saved from? Answer: eternal separation from God. Our knowledge and understanding is limited. We do not see God in His glory. Based on the beauty of the world we can see, the visions seen by the prophets, and God's own descriptions, we can believe that this worldly beauty pales by comparison. Some of the worst punishment we can think of is the 'super-max' prisons where the convicted criminal hour after hour, day after day, year after year in a single cell. Eternal separation from God is much, much worse than that. And to know there is no end to the aloneness, no end to lack of hope, no end to loss of love. It would drive you insane, and there is no relief or end to the insanity.

“Saved through faith” - (See: John 6:29; 3:16-18, 36; Col 1:4-5; 2:12) God’s grace has decreed (through the scriptures) by believing in Christ we are saved (See: Rom 10:8-10).

“That not of yourselves” - The salvation? Or the faith? If indeed salvation is by faith, why would we have to work to acquire faith? That makes no sense. But, if the salvation is not of ourselves, a result of faith, then the admonition to not work for salvation but believe makes sense.

“It is the gift of God” - Salvation is a gift. That is the concept of grace, salvation in not earned, it is given to us by God.

Vs. 9 - “ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” -

“Not as a result of works” - Salvation, the gift, remember! (Tit 3:5; 2 Tim 1:9)

“No one should boast” - See: 1 Cor 1:29-30. If indeed we can do nothing to gain salvation; if indeed Christ has done it all then there is nothing to get puffed up about, to feel pride in our own accomplishments.

Vs. 10 - “ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” -  

“His workmanship” - This further seals the grace/gift theme.

(1) We are undeserving
(2) God’s grace saves us
(3) We have no reason for self-pride
(4) We are created by Christ (v. 10)

As a result of His work we are saved, we are made into what He desires.

“Created... for good works... walk in them” - This is the beginning of a new train of thought that will be dealt with later by Paul. Simply put: saved to serve. As far as I know, Jesus never called anyone to just be saved. Each was called to serve, to fill a purpose. We too, have not been saved merely to be saved. We have been saved for the purpose of serving and glorifying the Lord! God decided long ago that we were to serve Him as He saved us.

“Walk” - This is to be one of the key words (another key word!) of this letter. Chapters 4 & 5 are devoted to directing, and teaching, and training believers in the way they should, because they are new creatures.

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