If anyone thinks that they can get to heaven by works, even if the works are considered “good works” by man’s standards, they are sadly mistaken. The Word of God plainly states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).
The biblical text essentially includes these words: Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. God knows how mankind operates on the basis of his sinful thoughts and deeds.
The Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins when He shed His blood and died on the cross. This was the only way for sinful man to be reconciled to holy God. The Bible says: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).
Why is this necessary, one may ask? Because every human since Adam, the first human God created, caused the whole world to fall into sin and come short of God’s glory.
The Scripture further declarers: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). This is not a pretty picture of man’s spiritual condition.
God is holy and righteous, hence He cannot condone sin in any way, shape or form. Therefore, He has provided the one and only way and means for man to be forgiven of his sins, and He “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).
The text is saying that there is the only one God, and there is the only one Mediator between God and all mankind, who is the Man Christ Jesus, and who gave Himself as payment of a ransom by His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, that would make atonement for all. A mediator is one who goes between two. And in this case, between God and mankind.
William MacDonald makes a noteworthy commentary on the text: “This verse sets forth clearly the divine and the human aspects of salvation. The first half of the verse indicates that man must be saved. The verb here is passive; man cannot save himself but must be saved by God. This is the divine side of salvation.”
“In order to be saved, man must come to the knowledge of the truth. God does not save men against their will. He does not populate heaven with rebellious subjects. Man must come to Him who said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” This is the human side” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, pgs. 2081 and 2082 Thomas Nelson Publisher).
As quoted earlier, what does the Scripture mean when it says “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8).
It means that salvation is a free gift from God to all mankind, because it cannot be earned through good works or by human effort — no matter how plausible these may seem to be.
Christians are saved only by God’s grace: Grace is the method of divine dealing in salvation and in the believer’s life and service. That’s why a person cannot be saved by works. The Bible says Christians “are justified by [God’s] grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
Christians are also kept by God’s grace. First Peter 5:10,11 says: “The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
It is good to keep in mind that God is the God of all grace and He is there for us even when trials oppress us and burdens destress us. He has promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Christians stand in God’s grace: Romans 5:2 says: “Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” “This grace, or standing in favor, embraces every aspect of our position before God, a position that is as perfect and permanent as Christ’s because we are in Him” (William MacDonald).
Christians grow in God’s grace: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
The Christian life is not a “stand still” kind of life. Christian living means growing in God’s grace, that is, becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ. And also, increasing in the knowledge of the words and ways of Christ through the study and application of the holy Scriptures. This will result in ascribing to the Lord the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.