Paul begins with one of the clearest statements in all the Bible concerning salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved.”
That means salvation begins with God’s grace, not man’s effort. Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve. We deserved judgment because of sin, but God in mercy spared us, and God in grace offered salvation through Jesus Christ.
Grace is not earned. Grace is not deserved. Grace is not achieved. Grace is God stepping toward sinners who could never reach Him on their own.
Noah is a beautiful picture of this. The world had become wicked, violent, and corrupt. Humanity had turned away from the Creator, and God determined to judge the earth with a flood. Yet Genesis 6:8 says Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. What a blessing. God showed Noah favour.
That is what grace is. God showing favour to the undeserving.
We were not lovable, yet God loved us. We were not righteous, yet Christ died for us. God did not wait until we fixed ourselves, reformed ourselves, or proved ourselves. He came to us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8, Genesis 6:8).
“Through faith”
Salvation is rooted in grace, but it is received through faith.
Faith is not the cause of salvation; Christ is. Faith is the channel through which we receive what Christ has already provided.
Faith is simply the hand that receives the gift.
It is not faith in self. It is not faith in religion. It is not faith in church attendance, baptism, good deeds, or personal morality. It is faith in Jesus Christ alone.
When the Philippian jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” the answer was simple and clear: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Faith says, “I cannot save myself. My goodness is not enough. My works cannot redeem me. I am trusting completely in Jesus Christ.” (Acts 16:30-31, Ephesians 1:13)
“And that not of yourselves”
Salvation is not something that originates with man. It does not begin with our goodness, our effort, our religious background, or our personal ability.
It begins with God.
God planned it. Christ purchased it. The Holy Spirit applies it.
John 3:16 reminds us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Salvation began in the heart of God before it was ever received by man.
We did not start our salvation. God did.
He came to us when we were sinners. He sent His Son in love. Jesus died to redeem us. The Holy Spirit convicts, draws, seals, and changes the believer.
It is all of grace (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:3-14).
“It is the gift of God”
Salvation is not a wage. It is not a reward. It is a gift.
A gift is not earned; it is received.
This is where many stumble. They think they must do something to deserve salvation. They believe they must keep the Ten Commandments, live a moral life, or produce enough good works to be accepted by God.
But God’s standard is far higher than ours.
If we offend in one point of the law, we are guilty of all. The law was never given to prove that we were strong enough to save ourselves. The law shows us that we are helpless and need a Saviour.
Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, and the people had already broken God’s law by making and worshipping idols. He broke the tablets because they had broken the law.
That is the condition of man. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.
The law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.
Salvation is God’s gift because we could never earn it (James 2:10, Romans 3:23, Galatians 3:24).
Paul begins with one of the clearest statements in all the Bible concerning salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved.”
That means salvation begins with God’s grace, not man’s effort. Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve. We deserved judgment because of sin, but God in mercy spared us, and God in grace offered salvation through Jesus Christ.
Grace is not earned. Grace is not deserved. Grace is not achieved. Grace is God stepping toward sinners who could never reach Him on their own.
Noah is a beautiful picture of this. The world had become wicked, violent, and corrupt. Humanity had turned away from the Creator, and God determined to judge the earth with a flood. Yet Genesis 6:8 says Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. What a blessing. God showed Noah favour.
That is what grace is. God showing favour to the undeserving.
We were not lovable, yet God loved us. We were not righteous, yet Christ died for us. God did not wait until we fixed ourselves, reformed ourselves, or proved ourselves. He came to us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8, Genesis 6:8).
“Through faith”
Salvation is rooted in grace, but it is received through faith.
Faith is not the cause of salvation; Christ is. Faith is the channel through which we receive what Christ has already provided.
Faith is simply the hand that receives the gift.
It is not faith in self. It is not faith in religion. It is not faith in church attendance, baptism, good deeds, or personal morality. It is faith in Jesus Christ alone.
When the Philippian jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” the answer was simple and clear: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Faith says, “I cannot save myself. My goodness is not enough. My works cannot redeem me. I am trusting completely in Jesus Christ.” (Acts 16:30-31, Ephesians 1:13)
“And that not of yourselves”
Salvation is not something that originates with man. It does not begin with our goodness, our effort, our religious background, or our personal ability.
It begins with God.
God planned it. Christ purchased it. The Holy Spirit applies it.
John 3:16 reminds us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Salvation began in the heart of God before it was ever received by man.
We did not start our salvation. God did.
He came to us when we were sinners. He sent His Son in love. Jesus died to redeem us. The Holy Spirit convicts, draws, seals, and changes the believer.
It is all of grace (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:3-14).
“It is the gift of God”
Salvation is not a wage. It is not a reward. It is a gift.
A gift is not earned; it is received.
This is where many stumble. They think they must do something to deserve salvation. They believe they must keep the Ten Commandments, live a moral life, or produce enough good works to be accepted by God.
But God’s standard is far higher than ours.
If we offend in one point of the law, we are guilty of all. The law was never given to prove that we were strong enough to save ourselves. The law shows us that we are helpless and need a Saviour.
Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, and the people had already broken God’s law by making and worshipping idols. He broke the tablets because they had broken the law.
That is the condition of man. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.
The law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.
Salvation is God’s gift because we could never earn it (James 2:10, Romans 3:23, Galatians 3:24).