Bible Study Verse
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV)
Thoughts
Gifts come in many forms:
- The gift of sight, to see the mountains and animals.
- The gift of hearing, to hear a bull elk bugle or a goose calling.
- The gift of the deer I killed that happened to be where I could see it.
So what is the gift from God?
A. Grace.
B. Salvation.
C. Faith.
D. All of the above.
You answer, "D". Yep, you got it. As the verse reads, the emphasis of the gift focuses on grace and faith. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God, the Bible. Therefore, by applying this principle, God gives us the faith to believe in Jesus; therefore, God gives us salvation from our sins; and, therefore, salvation is ours because of God's gift of grace.
The overriding principle here is that all three are gifts from God. God gave us the mountains, the rivers, the sea, the sky, and the animals that we enjoy. We didn't create them. Similarly, we can't "create" or earn our salvation. It comes from God and God alone. By the way, I've often heard grace defined as "God's riches at Christ's expense." Good definition; but I believe one word should be changed and that the phrase should read, "God's redemption at Christ's expense." Either way, I want it!
(Cliff S)
Action Point
Unwrap God's presents to you today: faith, salvation, and grace. Accept that they are gifts, and that there is no repayment necessary; just believe in Christ and be saved.
Sportsmen's Tip of the Day
Give a gift to your children or grand children that they can't have any other way--the gift of your time in the outdoors. It's a gift they will never forget!
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