Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 2:1-10 (day four)
Verses 8-9 say, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Boasting is based on pride, so we have here a contrast…grace vs. pride…gift vs. works…God vs. man. Paul is teaching that salvation is all God’s doing. Since the Garden of Eden, man…in his pride…has sought to supplant God with himself. It is the same battle today. We are His workmanship…God made us to respond to Him in good works. But we are not saved by our good works. All too often, we evaluate our good works against the good works of another person. When evaluated against God, where they should be, they are not capable of paying the price of our salvation. Paul is giving the church at Ephesus a course correction in theology…do you think he could be talking to us too?
