Salvation By Grace.

The concept of grace isn’t new. It is explicit in the ideas of God’s loving choice or election in the Old testament in Moses’ time. God reveals himself as " The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious ...." (Exodus 34:6, NIV)

Saint Paul with Sword -Painting

Grace is a major theme in Jesus' teaching, even though the word "grace" is not recorded on his lips.

Salvation by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The key New Testament texts on grace are found in Ephesians. The context is man's inability to save himself. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins...." (Ephesians 2:1). We are helpless. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5

The key verses in Ephesians 2:8-9 are well worth committing to memory:

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

To show grace is to bestow favor. Verses 8 and 9 make it clear that grace has nothing to do with reward for "good behavior." The benefactor doesn't show favor because we have earned it, but simply because he wants to. He is under no obligation to love because we have somehow driven him to it. He just loves. The impetus for the favor is entirely the prerogative of the giver, like a great aunt who delights to send things to her nieces and nephews even though they neglect to write and thank her.

"Dear Santa, I've been a good boy this year, so I deserve a lot of presents under the tree at Christmas." No, you're not really good boy, but a spoiled brat who wants to subvert the spirit of the season to your own selfishness! God isn't some celestial Santa Claus, "making a list and checking it twice, trying to find out who's naughty or nice."  That view of Christmas was invented by manipulative parents trying to leverage the holiday to induce good behavior. It isn't about grace!

When we like someone, we want to send flowers, shower upon her expressions of our love - Cards, presents, unexpected gifts. Please open it. Now? Yes, I just want to see the expression of delight upon your face. This great abandon and excess of God's favor exists on his terms and not ours. Grace and gift-giving go hand in hand, undeserved, given out of love and favor.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith...." (Ephesians 2:8a)

"Saved" is the Greek verb sōzō, while "salvation" is the noun sōteria.

When speaking to non-Christians (and Christians, too, for that matter) it is often best to substitute the word "rescued" for "saved," since that word "rescued" is processed by the hearer in its normal sense; The word "save" has become a caricature of Christian-jargon and isn't effective in secular culture.

So we've examined the ideas of rescue (salvation) and God's inexplicable but very real favor towards us (grace, gift).  In the next post we will look at "works."