Room 7 of 20

Ephesians 2:8–9

Grace, not works

Verse

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Why they use it

They say grace alone saves, so Restoration ordinances are works-salvation.

Why they are wrong

Paul says grace saves you — then says you were created for good works. Read the next verse.

Translation note

Greek: pistis (πίστις)

trust / allegiance / faithfulness — not ‘mental agreement only’

Pistis in Paul is loyalty to a king, not a checkbox. James is not Paul’s enemy. James is what happens when someone strips pistis down to a slogan.

The room (aka the context)

Who wrote it: Paul.
Who is in the room: Saints in Ephesus — Gentiles newly in.
Who is speaking: Paul.
What is going on: He is killing boasting. You did not earn the rescue. Then he says what you were rescued *for*.
What they already believe: Salvation is God’s gift. Nobody in that room is defending idle discipleship.
How they would hear these words: Not of works — meaning not a wage you bill God for. The next verse: created in Christ Jesus *unto* good works.

Clarifying verse

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Same paragraph. Grace is the root. Works are the road you were put on. FAIR and every honest reading of Paul refuse to amputate verse 10.

Sources

Mark it

Tap when you can say the verse out loud.