THE DOCTRINE OF
SALVATION BY GRACE
Although
Paul’s correspondence with the churches at
Ephesians 2:1-7 And he has given you life, who
were dead in trespasses and sins; In which you formerly walked according
to the way of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: Among whom we all
likewise formerly lived 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. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for
us, Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;) And has raised us up together with him,
and made us sit with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That
in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
[Comment: In these
verses Paul reminds us that even though we were spiritually "dead in
trespasses and sins" (verse 1), and "by nature the children of
wrath" (verse 3), we have been "raised" from spiritual death to new
life in Christ, solely by God’s grace (verses 5-6). (God’s "grace" is
His mercy and love, compare verses 4 and 5).]
[Note: Verse 6 The spiritual transformation, from being dead in sin to new
life in Christ, is the first resurrection (See Colossians
Ephesians 2:8-10 For you are saved
by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, that God determined in
advance that we should do.
[Comment: These
verses tell us that we are saved by grace, that we receive that grace through
faith (verse 8, Galatians 3:6), that it is the gift of God not something we
earn (verses 8-9, Romans 6:23), and that the good works that follow salvation
are a fruit of faith, not something that we do to be saved (verse 10, Ephesians
5:9).]
Ephesians 2:11-13 Therefore remember, that formerly
you being Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcised by those who call
themselves the Circumcision (that in the flesh made by hands); Remember that at that time you were
without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the
world: But now in Christ Jesus you who
once were far away are made near by the
blood of Christ.
[Comment: Again
Paul reminds his readers that even though they were Gentiles who were totally
unworthy of any blessing, without hope, "and without God" (verses
11-12), they were reconciled to God by the blood of Christ (verse 13).]
Ephesians 2:14-18 For he is our peace, who has made both Jew and Gentile one,
and has broken down the wall of hostility that separated us; Having abolished in his flesh the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; in order to make of the two one new body
in him, so making peace; And that he
might reconcile both to God in one body
by the cross, having thereby put the hostility to death: And came and preached peace to you that were
far away, and to them who were near. For through him we both have access to the
Father by one Spirit.
[Comment: Through
Christ’s sacrifice we have peace with God and are no longer cut off from His
kingdom (verse 14), for He has abolished the hostility (enmity) caused by the
law (verse 15), so that both Jew and Gentile might be reconciled to God by His
death on the cross (verse 16). Through faith in Him, we both have access to the
Father by the Holy Spirit (verse 18).]
Ephesians 2:19-22 For that reason you are no longer
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and the
household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom the
entire building fitly bound together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord: In
whom you are also built together as a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.
[Comment:
Therefore, being reconciled to God by the blood of Christ, we are no longer
"strangers and foreigners" [i.e. Gentiles], "but fellow
citizens" of God’s kingdom (the spiritual
CONCLUSION
Paul begins by reminding the Ephesians
of their background, and the fact that they were in no way worthy of salvation,
in order to remind them that God saved them solely by His grace, which they
received through faith in Christ, not works. He then goes on to make it clear
that even though the law separated gentiles from Israel in the past; because it
is not the law, but faith in Christ, that makes us acceptable to God, Jewish
and Gentile believers now both have equal status as citizens of God’s heavenly
kingdom (the true Israel, verse 19, Romans 2:28-29, Luke 17:21).
Gary Ray Branscome