Ephesians 2:8-9 – Gift of Grace

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Grace. What is it? God saved us “by” his grace when we believed. That’s a memory verse I’ve had in my brain from childhood. This grace that saved us is definitely a gift because of how much it changes us when we let it.

Context (Ephesians 2:1-10): Paul speaks of grace in these verses in a helpful way. Grace is something Jesus gives us that we don’t deserve. We might wonder how God could be so rich in his mercy toward us sinners. That’s love and God’s desire to be in a right relationship with us, his children. Such a great reminder that our salvation does not depend on us!

It’s a good thing that Jesus saves us, we would certainly fail without him. Yet, we’re still hard-hearted, thinking we may have some sort of input. We totally miss the point and misunderstand what grace means. We high achievers think we can somehow impress God in some way, thus erasing some of our bad deeds. But those bad deeds have been wiped clean already by Jesus.

That’s a good reminder, too, not to hold on to those past offenses. I don’t know how many times I’ve sought forgiveness for the same thing. I know in my heart Jesus cleansed me of that sin long ago, but my brain forgets.

Our job is not to do the work our way into heaven. If we need a job at all, it’s simply to believe and trust in Jesus as our Savior. Our part is so easy in comparison, isn’t it? Think about what Jesus endured for you on the cross. Jesus’ sacrificial life on earth was a lot different than his kingdom life beside the throne of God. He suffered all of that for you and me. It’s hard not to be changed when you can truly grasp that truth.

It’s what sets us believers apart from the world. We acknowledge our sinfulness and need for a Savior. We bow at the name of Jesus, trusting him with our life. We strive every day to live a life that is pleasing to him because we know he would want us to, not because we have to. As believers, we have been given the authority and responsibility to represent Jesus well.

Rather than point fingers at other people and how they behave, we should focus on ourselves. Jesus’ grace is for everyone. The difference is that we know about it and can heartily embrace it. This gift of grace is what redeems us and frees us from the bondage of sin and death.

While it’s tempting to think of this gift of grace as a reward, it is not given because of anything we do. People often focus more on the prize than they should, saying, “Keep your eyes on the prize.” In this case, being grateful for the gift of grace isn’t a bad thing. 

I was reminded recently of a worship song by Mercy Me that speaks about grace in a relatable way. You can listen to the song, “Flawless” to soak up the lyrics and be reintroduced to amazing grace. The video is quite touching, you might need a kleenx.

What is your response to the gift of grace and what Jesus did for you on the cross? Think on that today and share your heart with Jesus.

Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for the amazing gift of grace. It’s hard to explain the peace I feel inside knowing I’ve been pardoned and forgiven, saved by you. My heart breaks for all the people who don’t know you and are missing out on this gift. Use me to help reach those people you place in my path. Guide my steps and fill my mouth with your truth. May everything I say and do be honoring to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.