Ephesians 2:8-10
When man disobeyed God, he became spiritually dead. Yet, while man was in his fallen state, God showed how great His love was for him. “He gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, AMP Bible).
Paul started verse 8 stating how men are spiritually resurrected from death in sins. He told the Ephesians that it is by grace they have been saved through faith. This is God’s unmerited favor. Further Paul told them this is not their own doing; it is the gift of God. It is the manifestation of His kind and forgiving nature toward all mankind. How wonderful it would be if all accepted the free gift of salvation which only comes through faith in Christ Jesus!
Verse 9 stressed that none of this is the result of works by the hands of man so that no one may boast or take credit in any way for his salvation. Man’s attempt to keep the law demands work. This is legalistic and useless; Scripture condemns it: “Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ.And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16).
“For we are what he has made us. The Amplified Version declares “we are His own master work, a work of art,” created in Christ Jesus. Yes, God prepared good works for us beforehand so when we become spiritually resurrected, we may walk in them (v.10). Children of God are created to be used for His purpose. We don’t plan our paths; God does. We are to live according to His will, and trust Him to lead us in the way He’d have us to go. Give Him praise for grace has made you alive in Christ through faith!