for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 WEB
The apostle Paul taught the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ. Having been a legalistic Pharisee, Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus changed him completely. He went from persecuting Christians to preaching the gospel with bold fearlessness. His personal encounter with Jesus was so powerful that he knew with certainty the saving power and love of God.
With all of that, Paul also knew the truth of grace. He teaches that salvation comes from faith by the grace of God. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. That teaching is a stark departure from the legalistic point of view from which Paul came. We read in Romans 3:10, “As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. WEB”
Paul’s words to the Romans reveal his eventual acceptance of the fact that without the grace of God, every man is a condemned sinner. Jesus is the only person to ever live a righteous life. And yet, he died on the cross as a condemned man. God’s plan for our salvation was to transfer the penalty of our sin onto himself.
Good Teacher
Mark 10:18 gives Jesus’ response to a man who called him “Good Teacher,” saying, “Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.’ WEB” This rich man understood intuitively that Jesus was the promised Savior of mankind but left saddened because Christ instructed him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor.
This presents a question in the minds of believers. What do I need to do to get into heaven? Paul asserts that we are saved through faith by the grace of God. This is true. However, Jesus does ask that we demonstrate our faith by living in obedience to the will of God. We are saved by faith but as we read in James 2:17, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. WEB”
And so, Paul rightly teaches that salvation comes from faith in Christ by the grace of God. This helps us understand that our own actions cannot save us. We are guilty of sin and need a redeemer. And still, although our actions cannot save us, faith is kept alive through obedience to the will of God.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the truth of your word. Thank you for your grace and my salvation. Saved through faith, help me to live in obedience to your word. Guide me to live according to your will. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: What No Eye Has Seen
