Saved by Grace

 

To understand salvation, we must understand two big words in Ephesians 2; grace and faith. Ephesians 2:8-10 says,  “For grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

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What is grace? Grace is the unmerited favor of God toward us. Grace is the essence of the Gospel. Even Paul refers to “the gospel of the grace of God” in Acts 20:24. Grace is God’s consistent provision for His people, who can’t provide for themselves. Grace is being good to the undeserving. Grace is an outpouring of the goodness of God when only wrath is deserved. One thing we must understand about grace is that it’s a gift. We can’t buy grace, we can’t earn grace, we can’t inherit grace… because it’s a free gift from God the Father, and Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible makes it crystal clear that grace is truly free. Paul puts it so we can understand: we are saved “not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10). It’s free! How awesome is that!

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What is faith? The Bible says that faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance that the Lord is working, even though we cannot see it. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This verse tells us two main things. It tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for” and “the evidence of things not seen.” Since our faith affects what will happen, let’s make a point of setting our expectations on God. Faith permeates every part of our lives as it deepens and grows. This is what it means to live by faith.

 

So salvation is God’s righteousness at work in us when we say YES to God. We are saved by grace through faith, but we also live by grace through faith. And salvation by grace through faith is not a hard thing, it’s not a formula to follow but rather a miracle to believe and receive that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus! 

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Lesson Questions:

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• If salvation is by grace alone and not by works then could not a Christian live any old way if grace alone saves?

• Why do you think it is hard for people to accept God’s grace as a free gift? When is it difficult for you to be a recipient of God’s grace?

 

Scripture Reference: 

Hebrews 11:1-3

Genesis 15:6

Ephesians 2:8-10

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