Ephesians 2:8-10To: Ephesians Main MenuTo: Grace Notes Home Page Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, -------------------- "for by grace" Topic: GRACE -------------------- "are you saved" Victory begins here. Union with Christ guarantees that Christians are winners, permanently. We can stay in the winner's bracket because grace provided everything for us. Topic: Salvation Doctrines -------------------- "through faith" The means of entering God's plan is a non-meritorious system of thinking. Topic: FAITH -------------------- "and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God." Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. -------------------- "not of works" - not of human good. Human works are dead to God because they come from the Sin Nature. Isa. 64:6. It is essential for a Christian to begin "thinking Grace" as quickly as possible. Heb. 6:1, "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God," Topic: LEGALISM -------------------- "lest anyone should boast", (kakaomai), "to boast". Human good promotes boasting and pride. Grace is the opposite of boasting and pride. Grace promotes humility, growth, and divine good. Topic: PRIDE Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." -------------------- "for we are" (eimi), verb of absolute condition. -------------------- "His workmanship" - (poeima), "a product that is the result of labor; workmanship". Therefore, "We are continually the result of His work." -------------------- "created in Christ Jesus for good works" - (ktidzw), with several meanings.
-------------------- "which God has before ordained that we should walk in them" Topic: THE CHRISTIAN WALK See also notes on Eph. 2:2,3. There are three spheres to the believer's walk: Walking in Faith Rest - we walk by faith, not by sight 2 Cor. 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-- Walking in the Spirit Gal. 5:16-18, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." Walking by Learning Doctrine 3 John 1:3,4, "For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, {that is,} how you are walking in truth. "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." Summarizing the passage: Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved by means of faith, and that not of your own efforts, it is a gift from God." Ephesians 2:9, "Not by means of human good, so that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:10. "For we are the results of His work, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of producing divine good, which God has before ordained, that we should walk in them." End of Lesson 11 Warren Doud [ Grace Notes ] 1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757 Phone: 512-458-8923 E-Mail: wdoud@bga.com |
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