In Christ: Know It, Live It - 31 (Saved by Grace)

"For by 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" Ephesians 2:8-9.

Why are these 2 verses some of the most precious in the entire Bible to believers?

• They tell us that our salvation is by God's GRACE. We get the OPPOSITE of what we deserved because God is the God who punished His Son for our sin: Jesus getting what WE deserved...WRATH, and we getting what JESUS deserved...life and blessing and favor (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• They tell us that we HAVE BEEN SAVED. "It is finished" was our Savior's cry after He drank to the dregs the cup of God's wrath. The RESCUE has been affected. We ARE saved from sin and death and hell and Satan and hopelessness and alienation. Our eternal future is not uncertain or up for grabs NOR is it dependent on some future action or decision of ours. HE HAS DONE IT...we are saved by GRACE.
• They tell us that OUR PART in this salvation is FAITH. Faith is NOT a WORK in the sense that it merits or deserves anything from us. Faith is merely the RECEIVING of what is offered freely. There is required no moving towards God in dogged determination nor is there any swimming of oceans of religious requirements nor is there reliance on any earthly family ties or blessing from priests or pastors or bishops required for this salvation. We can only humbly receive it as the NEEDY ones from the WEALTHY and GRACIOUS ONE. Only hands EMPTY of self effort can receive this gift.
• These verses tell us that this salvation by Grace through Faith is a GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS. This has already been referred to...but this additional thought is important: even the ability to open empty hands as a beggar to receive our gracious God's gift is a GIFT from Him. Remember: we were DEAD spiritually, with no life to make movement towards God, even RECEIVING effort.
• These verses tell us there is no room for BOASTING in ourselves in this great, gracious salvation. There is only room for BOASTING in God: 1 Corinthians 1:31.

May today be spent in "I don't care who hears or knows" and "I want everyone to hear and know" boasting in our Great God who has saved us by PURE SOVEREIGN GRACE.