Not so fast you write:
Scripture also makes clear that faith itself is not a self-generated achievement.
Ephesians 2:8–9 states:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Even the faith through which we receive salvation is described as a gift. God grants us “a measure of faith” (
Romans 12:3), enabling us to respond to Him. Apart from His gracious initiative, we would remain spiritually inert.
My response:
The following is 100 % my knowledge of Salvation from 43 years of study. Not AI. For clarity and organization I utilize AI to organize my input into a format that is easier to read.
I respectfully disagree with your conclusion. The New Testament does not explicitly teach that salvation is
100% entirely by God’s grace alone in the sense you are presenting it, and I believe your position reflects a misunderstanding of both
grace and
faith.
1. Clarifying Ephesians 2:8–9
You will likely appeal to:
However, your premise needs to be examined more carefully in light of how Scripture defines
faith.
2. What Is “Faith”? — Defined by Jesus
Consider:
Here, Jesus connects Abraham not merely to belief, but to
what he did.
What were Abraham’s defining works?
- Believing God’s promise
– That he would have a son despite old age and Sarah’s barrenness
- Obedience to God
– Being willing to sacrifice Isaac
Key Point:
Jesus presents Abraham’s example in a way that shows:
- Faith is not passive—it is something expressed in action
- Obedience is something you do
Faith and obedience are inseparable. Faith is not mere mental agreement—it is something actively exercised.
3. Re-examining “Not of Works”
If faith involves action, we must be careful not to create a contradiction within the same passage when Paul says
“not of works” (Ephesians 2:9).
Because Paul also says:
So in the same statement:
- Salvation is through faith
- And not of works
The Key Issue:
If faith is defined as a “work” in the same sense Paul is rejecting, then the passage would contradict itself:
- “Saved through faith”
- but “not of works”
That would reduce to:
“You are saved by a work, but not by works” — which is inconsistent.
Therefore, a necessary distinction must be made:
Paul is using the term
“works” in a specific sense, not in the broad sense of “anything a person does.”
What kind of “works” is Paul rejecting?
Paul is excluding
meritorious and ritual works, such as:
- Circumcision
- Works of the Law
- External religious acts done to establish one’s own righteousness
These are works that produce
grounds for boasting.
Clarified Understanding:
- Faith does involve action (as seen in Abraham)
- But it is not a meritorious or ritual work like circumcision
- It is the means of receiving, not the basis for earning
Restated Conclusion:
Ephesians 2:8–9 is not denying that we must respond—it is denying that salvation comes through
works that earn merit or produce boasting.
Faith is active and obedient, but it does not earn salvation. It is the response God requires.
4. What Is Grace?
At its core,
grace means favor. Scripture shows this favor operating in two ways:
- Unconditional Grace (Offer of Favor)
- Conditional Grace (Reception of the Benefit)
5. The Parable of the Great Supper (Luke 14)
What do we observe?
- The invitation was given freely (unconditional grace)
- No qualifications were required to receive the invitation
However:
And the result:
Key Conclusion from the Parable:
- The offer was unconditional
- The benefit was conditional upon response
They were invited—but they did not respond—and therefore did not receive the benefit.
6. Applying This to Salvation
This aligns with:
Notice:
- Salvation is tied to conditions
- Believing and confessing are required responses
7. Final Summary
- Grace provides the invitation (unearned favor)
- Faith is the response (active, obedient trust)
- The benefit of salvation is conditional upon that response
So while salvation originates with God’s grace, it is not accurate to say it is entirely accomplished apart from any human participation, because Scripture consistently presents faith as something we must actively exercise.
If we follow Jesus’ teaching in John 8:39, faith is not passive—it is demonstrated through action. Therefore, salvation involves both:
- God’s gracious initiative
- Man’s obedient response of faith
