Walking through Ephesians - Day 32
versebyverse | November 20, 2007 19:32
Thought: To me, people today really need to see the futility of their own efforts in attaining salvation.
Question: Can we receive God's salvation while not doing a THING to earn it?
Scripture: Ephesians 2:9 (NIV): "not by works, so that no one can boast."
Salvation, says Paul, is not attained by human effort. If that were a valid way of reaching God, some could boast as being better than some others. Boasting is not indicative of God or God's children. It is an outcome of pride. The competitiveness is also not of God. Competition must, of necessity, push down some in order to have others be elevated. This is totally anti-God. God is pro-underdog. The system of salvation of the Jews had become highly competitive and was full of potential boastings. In direct opposition to Judaistic boasts and competitions comes God's grace (verse 8: "for it is by grace you have been saved...") Grace contradicts works because works are human whereas grace is totally from God. Works can never achieve what God's grace has achieved because of their source, man. Only grace from God can solve the problem of man. An effort out of man always produces pride, and pride is the essential transgression of all sinfulness, as seen in Lucifer's pride and desire to excel like God.
Prayer: Oh, Lord, humble me until I know the marvel of this fact: You have done all the necessary work of salvation, and there is nothing I need do to earn it. Amen.
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