In Christianity, faith can be described in two ways. There is the faith by which every just or God-fearing man lives. This is exercised throughout the lives of the believers when it comes to hoping for something and believing that it will happen because God had said it. This is clearly described in Hebrews 11:1 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

But there is another faith that is directly connected to the justification of sinners. This is beyond just hoping for or believing something that we cannot see. This is trusting (or believing) and depending on Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins. This faith is exercised when we trust the redemptive work of Christ (that is, His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection) for our salvation. This justifying faith is the focus of this article.

Salvation requires faith in the completed work of Christ. In other words, before you can be saved, you must put your faith (trust) in what Christ had done for you. But the point of this lesson is to remind both the saved and the unsaved that this faith is not a product of human desires or efforts. It is a gift given to us by God.

Today’s Text:

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith…” Ephesians 2:8.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. For a man to be saved, he must put his faith (trust) in Christ alone. It is trusting in the completed work of Christ alone (apart from all human efforts) that brings salvation. But what is the source of this faith that we must to exercise in the redemptive work of Christ?

It Follows the Hearing of the Word

Justifying faith is produced following the hearing of the gospel. The gospel describes what Christ did (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) in response to the hopeless condition of man. Having sinned and come short of the glory of God, man became incapable to getting to God on his own. There is therefore the need for a Mediator.

Christ is the only One who can be the mediator between God and man. He humbled and submitted Himself to the humiliation, suffering, and the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8). He gave “His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). He died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. This is the simple message of the gospel.

When the gospel is received with a repentant heart, faith is produced. This is the result of “the grace of God that bringeth salvation” (Titus 2:11). Grace is the unmerited favor of God given to those who deserves His wrath. But it all begins by “hearing”. Therefore without the preaching, hearing, and believing the gospel, saving faith will not be produced in the heart of the sinners.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We exercise this “faith” in the work of Christ in order to be saved. But it is not a natural product of human heart. Remember, it “cometh”. “…And that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8. The word “that” in Verse 8 refers to the faith that we need to exercise in the work of Christ in order for us to be saved. This is a gift given to us by God following the hearing of the gospel and repenting. We did not and cannot produce this faith in ourselves.

This makes more sense when you think of the nature of salvation. It is a work of creation which only God can do. Therefore only God can produce the faith required to receive it.

Having sinned and come short of the glory of God, man became incapable to getting to God on his own. There is therefore the need for a Mediator.

It Comes by Grace

“it is the gift of God”- Those who have received this gift of faith got it by the grace of God. They did nothing to deserve it. According to Titus 2:11, it the grace of God that brings salvation.

Grace is receiving or getting something that you do not deserve. And in the case of the gift of faith, you cannot earn it. It is given to us by God as a result of His love for us. It is something that is bestowed upon us for which we’re not required to pay anything in return. We cannot merit it, we cannot be good or obedient enough to deserve it.

Romans 9:25-26 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

It is “Not of Works”

“Works” here refer to the things we do, or can do, to merit a reward or gain. In case of salvation, works will be things that people would attempt to do to earn their salvation. But salvation cannot be earned by human works or efforts. It is granted on the basis of the completed works of Christ.

Remember, prior to being saved, we were spiritually dead, but not too dead to do anything. We were still capable of doing some works such as described here:

Ephesians 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

In this fallen condition, we cannot do that which would have produced the saving faith. Faith does not come until we have received the word of truth convicting us of our sins. When this conviction leads to repentance, saving faith is produced.

But salvation cannot be earned by human works or efforts. It is granted on the basis of the completed works of Christ.

“Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9.

Boasting is giving yourself credit (or showing off) for your accomplishments. We are unable to give ourselves any credit for believing or coming to Christ by faith. The plan of salvation is the result of the love of God for the world (John 3:16). It is the grace of God that brings salvation to all men (Titus 2:11). The Word of God comes to us in the form of the gospel. The Spirit of God convicts us of our sins and leads to repentance, and we are granted the gift of faith.

Romans 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Since salvation is the work of creation (Ephesians 2:10), it is completely outside of all human efforts. God is the One who does the work, and we are simply His “workmanship”. This totally removes any ground for boasting. We did not get saved by the works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5), not by our obedience to the Law (Galatians 2:16), and not by anything we can still do.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Even after being saved, Christian life is the acts of God in the lives of the Christians (Philippians 2:13). If you have received the gift of faith, be thankful for the work of Christ on your behalf, and for the grace of God. And if you’re progressing in your Christian life, recognize that it is God that works in you. Appreciate the gift of faith and do not ever boast in your own efforts.

If you’re yet to receive this gift, quit trying to earn it. Simply receive it because it has been offered in Christ and the offer has yet to be withdrawn. To learn more about how to receive this gift of faith, please follow the link below.

Thank you for reading!