Salvation by Grace: Faith as God's Gift

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Divine Gift

Faith is not a product of human effort or will but a gift from God. This understanding emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation, ensuring that all glory is directed to Him alone. Our inability to generate faith on our own highlights our dependence on God's grace. The state of being "dead in trespasses" implies that we are incapable of generating faith on our own; it must be given by God. This understanding calls us to humility and reverence, recognizing that our faith and salvation are entirely the work of God. [03:38]

Ephesians 1:17-18 (ESV): "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: In what ways can you acknowledge and celebrate the gift of faith in your life today, recognizing it as a divine gift rather than a personal achievement?

Day 2: Humility in Salvation

The structure of Ephesians 2:8-10 is designed to eliminate any grounds for human boasting. By clarifying that faith, like grace, is not from us, Paul ensures that all credit for salvation is attributed to God. This calls us to a posture of humility and gratitude. Understanding that our salvation is not a result of our own efforts but a gift from God should lead us to a life of thankfulness and worship. It is a reminder that we are not the authors of our salvation, but recipients of God's incredible grace. [07:55]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you practice humility today by acknowledging God's role in your life and salvation, rather than taking credit for your spiritual journey?

Day 3: Divine Intervention in Spiritual Deadness

Our spiritual deadness underscores the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. Just as we cannot raise ourselves from physical death, we cannot generate faith on our own. This highlights the miraculous nature of God's saving work. Recognizing our spiritual deadness before God's intervention should lead us to a deeper appreciation of His grace and power. It is a reminder that our salvation is not just a change in status but a resurrection from death to life. [04:31]

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually dead or distant from God. How did you experience His intervention and grace in that situation?

Day 4: Consistency of Faith as a Gift

Other passages, such as Philippians 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 1:30, reinforce the idea that faith is a gift from God. This consistency across Paul's writings strengthens the argument that our salvation is entirely a work of divine grace. Understanding this consistency helps us see the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty and grace in salvation. It encourages us to trust in God's plan and His ability to work in our lives beyond our understanding. [11:07]

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV): "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."

Reflection: How does recognizing the consistency of faith as a gift across Scripture impact your trust in God's sovereignty and grace in your life today?

Day 5: Living as God's Workmanship

We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us. This emphasizes that our salvation is not just about being saved from sin but also being empowered to live out God's purposes. Our lives should reflect the transformative power of God's grace. Understanding that we are God's workmanship calls us to live intentionally, seeking to fulfill the good works He has prepared for us. It is a call to action, to live out our faith in tangible ways that reflect God's love and grace to the world. [13:37]

Titus 2:14 (ESV): "Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

Reflection: What is one specific good work you feel God has prepared for you to do today, and how can you take a step towards fulfilling it?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Ephesians 2:8-10, we delve into the profound truth that our salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, accessed through faith, and not a result of our own efforts. This passage emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, designed to eliminate any grounds for human boasting. The central question we address is the nature of faith in this context: is it a product of our own will, or is it a gift from God? The text suggests that faith, like grace and salvation, is not from us but is indeed a gift from God. This understanding is crucial because it underscores the complete sovereignty of God in the process of salvation, ensuring that all glory is directed to Him alone.

We examine four arguments to support the view that faith is a gift from God. First, the state of being "dead in trespasses" implies that we are incapable of generating faith on our own; it must be given by God. Second, the structure of Paul's writing in Ephesians suggests that the insertion of "this is not from you" is intentional to clarify that faith, like grace, is not self-generated. Third, the alternative interpretation, which separates faith from the gift of God, seems redundant and lacks the depth of Paul's theological intent. Lastly, other scriptural references, such as Philippians 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 1:30, reinforce the idea that faith is granted by God, further eliminating any basis for human boasting.

This understanding calls us to humility and reverence, recognizing that our faith and salvation are entirely the work of God. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This realization should lead us to a posture of gratitude and worship, acknowledging that every aspect of our salvation is a testament to God's grace and power.

Key Takeaways

1. The Gift of Faith: Faith is not a product of human effort or will but a gift from God. This understanding emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation, ensuring that all glory is directed to Him alone. Our inability to generate faith on our own highlights our dependence on God's grace. [03:38]
2. Eliminating Boasting: The structure of Ephesians 2:8-10 is designed to eliminate any grounds for human boasting. By clarifying that faith, like grace, is not from us, Paul ensures that all credit for salvation is attributed to God. This calls us to a posture of humility and gratitude. [07:55]
3. Dead in Trespasses: Our spiritual deadness underscores the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. Just as we cannot raise ourselves from physical death, we cannot generate faith on our own. This highlights the miraculous nature of God's saving work. [04:31]
4. Scriptural Consistency: Other passages, such as Philippians 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 1:30, reinforce the idea that faith is a gift from God. This consistency across Paul's writings strengthens the argument that our salvation is entirely a work of divine grace. [11:07]
5. God's Workmanship: We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us. This emphasizes that our salvation is not just about being saved from sin but also being empowered to live out God's purposes. Our lives should reflect the transformative power of God's grace. [13:37]
** [13:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:8-10
[00:48] - God's Aim: Removing Boasting
[01:12] - Understanding Faith and Grace
[01:42] - Prayer for Clarity
[02:32] - The Package of Salvation
[03:02] - Is Faith Self-Generated?
[03:52] - Argument 1: Dead in Trespasses
[04:42] - Argument 2: Paul's Theology
[06:08] - The Insertion's Purpose
[07:35] - Faith as a Gift
[08:21] - Argument 3: Logical Consistency
[10:32] - Argument 4: Scriptural Evidence
[12:25] - From God, In Christ
[13:37] - God's Workmanship and Our Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:8-10
- Philippians 1:29
- 1 Corinthians 1:30

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Observation Questions:

According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the role of grace in our salvation? How does this passage describe the relationship between grace and faith? [00:16]
In the sermon, it was mentioned that we are "dead in trespasses." What does this imply about our ability to generate faith on our own? [04:31]
How does the structure of Ephesians 2:8-10 eliminate any grounds for human boasting according to the sermon? [07:55]
What other scriptural references were used in the sermon to support the idea that faith is a gift from God? [11:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does understanding faith as a gift from God change the way we view our own efforts in the process of salvation? [03:38]
The sermon suggests that recognizing faith as a gift should lead us to humility and gratitude. Why is humility an appropriate response to this understanding? [07:55]
In what ways does the concept of being "God's workmanship" influence our understanding of the purpose of our salvation? [13:37]
How does the sermon explain the consistency of Paul's theology across different passages regarding faith and grace? [10:32]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you might have taken credit for your faith or spiritual growth. How can you shift your perspective to acknowledge God's role in your faith journey? [07:55]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility. What are some practical ways you can cultivate humility in your daily life, especially in your spiritual practices? [07:55]
Consider the idea that we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works." What specific good work do you feel God has prepared for you to do in this season of your life? [13:37]
How can you express gratitude for the gift of faith in your personal prayers and worship this week? [03:38]
The sermon calls us to a posture of reverence. What are some ways you can incorporate reverence into your daily routine, perhaps through prayer, meditation, or scripture reading? [13:37]
Identify an area in your life where you might be tempted to boast. How can you redirect that tendency to give glory to God instead? [07:55]
How can you encourage others in your community to recognize and appreciate the gift of faith as a work of God's grace? [11:07]

Sermon Clips

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you, it is the gift of God, not from works, so that no one may boast. God's aim is to remove all boasting. That's why he saves this way. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. [00:20:24]

Father, I pray that we would grasp more clearly the reality of faith, where it comes from, and how it's functioning here, so that we can be free from all boasting and be sure that you get the glory for saving us the way you do through faith. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen. [00:80:82]

We were dead in our trespasses when God made us alive. By grace you've been saved. So saying that by grace you've been saved, we argued that this insertion here is to draw attention to the fact that grace is of such a nature that it saves from those who are unable to welcome the salvation and those who are undeserving of it. [00:234:232]

Dead people don't create their own faith. That's argument number one. Argument number two is a little different. Consider this: in ordinary theology of Paul, he says things like this: we know that a person is not justified from works of the law, but through faith in Christ. [00:276:274]

Why this? And I'm arguing that this insertion here is unnecessary unless you want to make a particular point, just like this insertion was unnecessary unless you want to make a particular point. And I think they're the same point. So, I'm arguing that had he only written by grace you have been saved through faith not from works. [00:349:352]

Faith doesn't boast not only because it's of such a nature as to look to Christ rather than self, it also doesn't boast because it didn't come into existence on its own. It was the gift of God. That's argument number two. Here's argument number three: those who want to say that faith is not a gift of God. [00:493:489]

The only thing that needs clarifying in this sentence is, is faith the gift of God? Is the process of being saved by grace through faith not from you? It is a gift of God. So that's my third argument. I just don't think the way others have to construe this makes sense. [00:610:608]

There are evidences that Paul thought faith was a gift. For example, Philippians 1:29, it has been granted to you, given to you freely given to you, that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but suffer. So believing in him is granted to you, it has been given to you freely to believe in him. [00:640:636]

God chose what is low and despised in the world, this election, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast. Same concern as Ephesians 2:8-9, take away boasting, no one may boast in the presence of God. [00:678:675]

From him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, so that as it is written, that he who boasts, boast in the Lord. So take boasting away from man, put it in the Lord. How? By pointing out that it is from God that we are in Christ Jesus. [00:714:710]

The totality of our salvation summed up in deadness is possible because God did this. You did not do this. This didn't come from you. You didn't raise yourself from the dead and you didn't create your faith. You are God's workmanship, created by God in Christ Jesus. [00:805:800]

So let us humble ourselves and tremble at the thought of robbing God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit of any of their glory in saving us, including robbing them of the glory of giving us saving faith. [00:831:826]

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Salvation by Grace: Faith as God's Gift

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Divine Gift

Day 2: Humility in Salvation

Day 3: Divine Intervention in Spiritual Deadness

Day 4: Consistency of Faith as a Gift

Day 5: Living as God's Workmanship

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Salvation by Grace: Faith as God's Gift

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