Agreed, but it's not a work. We're saved by Grace through faith, but even that faith is not of ourselves. It's all a gift of God. Not works. Lest anyone should boast.
The Scriptures teach throughout that the gift of God is salvation and righteousness.
Romans 6:23 (WEB)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We only receive the gift of righteousness by faith
Romans 4:4-5 (NIV) 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not credited as a
gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but
trusts God who justifies the ungodly,
their faith is credited as righteousness.
The free gift of salvation is also received by faith (John 3:16).
Notice that in
Romans 4:4-5 teaches that we receive God’s Gift (being accredited righteousness) only by Faith (“
their faith”). Faith is not part of the “gift;” rather, we receive the “gift” by faith.
“
Romans 5:17” is another example showing that
righteousness is the gift. And as “
Romans 4:4-5” (previously quoted) teaches, we only receive that gift of righteousness by faith. So, Faith itself is not the gift. The gift is God’s grace that we receive by faith.
The “
Gift of God” is God graciously imputing His righteousness to those who believe in Jesus (a belief that the Gospel itself defines in the NT Scripture just as we have seen, and is represented in Baptism).
Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)
22
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
No Scripture states or teaches that faith onto salvation is a gift of God. Some ‘scholars’ object, citing “1 Corinthians 12:9” and “Romans 12:3-8.”
Citing “1 Corinthians 12:9” as proof that saving faith is a gift of God is a good example of taking verses out of context and supplying one’s own meaning. “
1 Corinthians 12” refers to the gifts of the Spirit within the body of Christ – to those already saved.
One of the many Spiritual gifts Paul lists in 1 Corinthians 12 is “faith,” which is given to
some in the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:9).
1 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
9
To another faith by the same Spirit;
to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit
If this Spiritual gift of “faith” is given so one can be saved, then does this mean that all others in the body of Christ who did not receive the gift of faith were saved without faith? No. Paul is discussing Spiritual gifts for those already saved.
Similar to 1 Corinthians 12, we see also that Romans 12:3-8 is also teaching about the Spiritual Gifts and the faith to carry out specific gifts in the body of Christ. A measure of faith unique to carry out specific Spiritual gifts is required.
So as we view Ephesians 2:8-10, we see that the gift is referring to the grace of salvation that we receive by faith. This faith is not a work. God paid the penalty for our sins, so that all who believe may receive the gift of salvation.
Blessings