THE DOCTRINE OF

 SALVATION BY GRACE

A Look at God's Word by
Gary Ray Branscome
 
    Although Paul’s correspondence with the churches at Rome and Galatia emphasized justification, the second chapter of his letter to the Ephesians focuses on salvation. While justification has to do with our standing before God, and the fact that it is faith in Christ that makes us righteous in His sight; salvation has to do with our final state, and “the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (verse 7, Romans 3:28, Galatians 3:6, John 3:16).

Ephesians 2:
1  And you hath he quickened, [i.e. made alive] who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past 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.
4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
    [Comment: In these verses Paul reminds us that because we are “by nature” children of wrath (verse 3), spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins (verse 1), and totally unworthy of God’s grace (verse 2) we have been “raised” from spiritual death to new life in Christ, solely by God’s mercy, love, and grace (verses 4-6).]
    [Note: The spiritual transformation, from being dead in sin to new life in Christ, is the first resurrection (Verse 6, Colossians 2:12 and 3:1, Revelation 20:5-6).]

8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
    [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).]

11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12  That at that time ye 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:
13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh 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).]

14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
    [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).]

19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation 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 Israel, Romans 2:28-29, verse 19). For we are all “builded together” as living stones (verse 21, 1Peter 2:5), Jesus Christ being the “chief corner stone” (verse 20), that all believers together (the invisible church, Luke 17:21), might be a “holy temple” (dwelling place) of God (verse 22).]

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 them from Israel in the past, because it is faith in Christ (not the law) that makes us acceptable to God, Jews and Gentiles now both have equal status as citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom (the true Israel, verse 19, Romans 2:28-29, Luke 17:21).