Salvation is by grace
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Our scripture passage today gives us a clear truth about the salvation we receive through Christ Jesus, it is clearly stated, it is not by our making, but by the grace of God.
Grace is the unearned, undeserved favor of God. It’s not something we can buy, achieve, or work for. Grace is given to us freely by God. It is His favor poured out on us despite our shortcomings, our sins, and our inability to live up to His perfect standard.
If we break it down, grace is God’s choice to extend kindness, mercy, and forgiveness to us, even though we have done nothing to earn it. And that’s exactly what makes it so beautiful: we could never earn it. It’s a gift, freely given by a loving Father.
Why Do We Need Grace?
Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Each one of us has sinned; we’ve turned away from God, whether through pride, selfishness, or even just by trying to live life on our terms. The result of sin is separation from God, but here’s the good news: God’s grace bridges the gap that our sin created.
We are saved not because of who we are or what we do, but because of who God is and what He has done. Through Jesus Christ, God reached down to us, giving us a way to be restored to Him. God’s grace is so radical that it meets us in our sin and covers us in His righteousness.
Furthermore, grace frees us From the Weight of works. Some people think they have to “earn” God’s love or work hard to be “good enough” for Him. But if we could earn salvation, then Jesus’s sacrifice would not have been necessary. The beauty of grace is that it takes the pressure off us. We don’t have to achieve our way into God’s favor. We simply need to receive it.
Let us imagine trying to climb a ladder to reach God, only to realize that the ladder never ends, and with each step, you feel more exhausted and less hopeful. God, in His love, saw our struggle and sent Jesus to carry us up that ladder. He met us where we are so that we don’t have to climb alone.
Salvation is God’s Gift
As we read in Ephesians, salvation is a gift. It’s not a reward for good behavior or wages for a job well done. It’s an outright gift from a gracious and loving Father. Just like any gift, it’s not ours until we receive it. God offers salvation to us freely, but we must open our hearts and accept it.
Let us consider the parable of the prodigal son. After squandering his inheritance, the son returned home, expecting to be treated as a servant. But his father welcomed him with open arms, clothing him with a robe and preparing a feast in his honor. That’s a picture of grace. The son didn’t deserve a celebration; he deserved rejection. But instead, he received grace.
How then do we receive God's grace?
We receive grace through faith. Faith is simply trusting in God’s promise that Jesus’s death and resurrection are enough for our salvation. When we put our faith in Christ, we are saying, “Lord, I cannot save myself, but I trust that You have saved me.” It’s an act of surrender, of letting go of our pride and admitting that we are in need of a Savior.
Romans 10:9 tells us, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” There’s nothing we need to add. Faith in Jesus is enough.
When we truly grasp the grace of God, it changes us. We begin to understand that we are deeply loved and forgiven. Grace makes us want to live differently, not to earn God’s favor but in response to the love we’ve already received.
In conclusion, let us never take God’s grace for granted. Let us remember that we were saved not by our works, but by His love. And let that gratitude lead us to worship, serve, and love others with the same grace that has been shown to us.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of your word today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation you have given me in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help me not to misuse the grace you gave given me in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.