Note 17 at Eph. 2:8: Ephesians 2:8-9 states that the BASIS of our salvation is grace-that is, God's undeserved, unmerited favor towards us as expressed in providing redemption through Christ Jesus. The MEANS of God saving us is through faith. Through faith we accept God's free gift of salvation which was provided by grace. So we are saved "by gracethrough faith."

Note 18 at Eph. 2:8: In previous footnotes we have explained that the word "saved" means much more than just forgiveness of sins (see ref. p at v. 5, p. 1102). It includes healing, prosperity, and deliverance in every area of our lives.

In this verse, the Greek word that was translated "saved" is in the past perfect tense and means that something was done and completed in the past that continues to have present results. God's grace has already provided all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3) and our faith reaches out to God and receives the benefits (Rom. 5:2). The Greek scholar Kenneth S. Wuest translates this verse, "For by grace have you been saved in time past completely, through faith, with the result that your salvation persists through present time; and this (salvation) is not from you as a source."

Note 19 at Eph. 2:8: Notice that we are not saved by grace alone. We are saved by grace through faith. Faith grants us admission to God's grace (see note 3 at Rom. 5:2, p. 768). Without faith, God's grace is wasted and without grace, faith is powerless. Faith in God's grace has to be released to receive what God has provided through Christ (see note 19 at 1 Cor. 15:10, p. 956).

God's grace is the same towards everyone. Titus 2:11 says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Therefore, all men (mankind) have had salvation provided for them (1 Jn. 2:2) and extended towards them by God's grace, but not all men are saved. Why? Because not everyone has mixed faith with what God has done for them by grace.

Failure to understand the necessity of both grace and faith working together has led to many problems. Some people emphasize God's grace to an extreme which renders our faith useless. They say everything is up to God's grace and is controlled sovereignly by Him alone. That's wrong. It's just as wrong to emphasize faith apart from God's grace. That's legalism. Faith doesn't move God. God moves of His own free will by grace and faith only appropriates what God has already provided through His grace.

Just as sodium and chloride are poisonous by themselves, so grace or faith used independently of each other are deadly. But when you mix sodium and chloride together in the proper way, you get salt, which you must have to live. Likewise, putting faith in what God has already provided by grace is the key to victorious Christian living.

Note 20 at Eph. 2:8: Most people assume the word "that" which is used here is referring to our salvation. Our salvation is not of ourselves. It is the gift of God. That is certainly a true statement. However, it is also true that the faith we use for salvation is not of ourselves. It is the gift of God too.

There is a human faith and a supernatural, God kind of faith. Human faith is based on physical things that we can see, taste, hear, smell, or feel. God's kind of faith believes independently of physical circumstances (see note 6 at Rom. 4:17, p. 765). To receive God's gift of salvation, we have to use this supernatural, God kind of faith which isn't limited by our five senses. This is because, to be saved, we must believe for things which we can't see or feel. We haven't seen God or the devil. We haven't seen Heaven or Hell. Yet we have to believe that all these things exist. Human faith can't believe what it can't see.

Man is so destitute that he can't even believe the gospel on his own. To receive God's gift of salvation, we have to receive the supernatural, God kind of faith first. Where does this faith come from? How do we get it? Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." God's Word contains His faith. As we hear the Word of God about our salvation, God's faith comes so that we can believe the good news of our salvation. We actually use God's faith to get saved.

This God kind of faith doesn't leave us after the born-again experience. God's faith becomes a fruit of the Spirit which is in our hearts. We never lose this supernatural faith. We just have to renew our minds to the fact that God's faith is in us and then learn how to use it (see note 16 at Rom. 12:3, p. 826).

Note 21 at Eph. 2:8: Salvation is described as a gift. The dictionary defines a gift as "something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation; a present" (American Heritage Dictionary-see note 4 at Rom. 6:23, p. 784). When someone gives you a present you don't ask, "How much do I owe you?" Your only response should be, "Thank you very much." But many Christians after receiving the gift of salvation are still thinking they must work to pay for their acceptance. The only acceptable response to salvation is gratitude and praise to God for His indescribable gift (2 Cor. 9:15). Salvation is a gift to be received (Rom. 6:23), not a wage to be earned.

Note 22 at Eph. 2:8: These verses explain in detail the nature of grace. If it's by grace then: (1) it is not of yourselves (here; Rom. 3:28; Ti. 3:5); (2) it is a gift (here; Rom. 5:17); (3) it is not of works or human effort (v. 9; Rom. 11:6; Ti. 3:5); and (4) it excludes man's boasting (v. 9; Rom. 3:27).