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In chapter one of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, the apostle remarks that he
often prays that the Ephesians will know, among other things, the greatness of God's power
(Eph. 1:15-19). Paul then elaborates on God's power — specifically, His power to
raise the dead.
First, Paul mentions God's power in raising Jesus back to life physically (Eph. 1:20-23). In chapter two, Paul switches to God's power to raise men from spiritual death. Paul says the Ephesians had been spiritually dead because of sin (vv. 1-3), but because of God's love and mercy He brought them back to life, as He did with Jesus (vv. 4-6). Paul says that by this God shows "the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (v. 7). This sets the stage for two of the most sublime — and misunderstood — verses in the Bible. "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). It is by God's grace that Christ came and did His redemptive work. And only the blood of a perfect human sacrifice could atone for man's sin (Heb. 10:4-10). Left to his own devices, man could not produce a means of salvation. Man would have no hope without the cross. But God provided the Ephesians the gift of salvation, and because of their faith in Paul's preaching they availed themselves of that gift (cf. Acts 19:1-7). That's the import of this passage. Unfortunately, many use these verses to teach that salvation comes at the moment we believe Jesus died for our sins, apart from obedience to the Gospel. This violates the immediate context, as well as other plain New Testament passages. In chapter one of Ephesians, Paul states that being "in Christ" brings several things: all spiritual blessings (v. 3), adoption (vv. 4-5), acceptance (v. 6), redemption and forgiveness (v. 7). And Ephesians 2:10 says God made the Ephesians His creation "in Christ." But what Ephesians 2:8-9 does not tell us is how to get into Christ to receive these blessings. We have to look elsewhere in the New Testament to find that information. Paul gives a divine commentary and explains how to get "in" Christ in his letter to the churches of Galatia. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). Paul says baptism puts one in Christ. He says the same thing to the church at Rome (Rom. 6:3-5). If we are saved the moment we believe, then we are saved before repenting or verbally confessing Christ. Yet the New Testament says we must do these things before receiving pardon (Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:9-10). And Jesus said baptism precedes salvation (Mark 16:15-16). Ephesians 2:8-9 has a wonderful message about our helplessness to save ourselves and God's love and grace making salvation possible. But this passage does not tell us what to do to receive God's gift. Don't fall prey to the error that one can be saved without complying with the Lord's demands. The Ephesians had enough faith to fulfill the Lord's requirements (Acts 19:1-7). Those who believe in the existence of Jesus but do not have the faith required to obey His commands for salvation are still lost (Matt. 7:21-23; John 12:42-43). Ephesians 2:8-9 lends no support to the man-made doctrine of salvation by faith alone. |