SAVED

“For by GRACE you have been SAVED through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God – Ephesians 2:8

We are SAVED by GRACE through Faith. We could never be saved in otherwise, because Salvation is a free Gift of Grace. To be saved from Sin, delivered from Satan, and liberated from fleshly lusts is an unmerited favor, devoid of personal effort. For us to be saved who “were dead in trespasses and sins,” who “once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air”, could only be by grace (Eph.2:1-2). God’s richness in mercy and greatness of love compelled Him to make us alive together with Christ, to raise us up together, and make “us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (vv.5-6). All of these are clear manifestations of “the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (v.7).

The prison keeper asked Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Most major religions answer that question by offering a book of rules as the road-map to heaven. Satan tries to make us earn grace. Paul didn't tell the prison keeper, "Work harder, pray longer, give more, and behave better.” No, he said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). However, the Grace that saved us also made us into “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (v.10). Although we were not saved by good works, walking in good works is expected of the genuinely saved person. The Lord commanded: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt.5:16). Believing is the root of the tree of salvation; behaving is the fruit that grows on it. We don't do good works to be saved; but our good works are an expression of love and gratitude to the One who already saved us.

The Grace that saved also drew us who were without Christ and “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise” into intimacy with the divine, by the blood of Christ (vv.12-13). This Grace has changed us from “strangers and foreigners” into “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (v.19). To be saved is not merely moving from minus to zero; it is moving from minus to plus. It is to be transformed from sinner to saint; from wretched to worthy! The God of Grace specializes in saving those whom others have “written off”! No one is ever beyond the reach of grace! The criminal on the cross prayed only nine words to cross from death to life: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Lk.23:42). The publican prayed only seven words for a destiny encounter: “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Lk.18:13). Peter could only mutter three words: “Lord, save me” and he was saved from drowning (Mt.14:30).

In all such circumstances, the Lord saved them all. Those who are working hard to earn their way into God’s kingdom are certainly on the wrong path. When salvation is by grace through faith, all the work and all the glory are God’s. Christ has done everything necessary for our salvation. He paid the debt and became the necessary sacrifice. He had loved us to the uttermost, and given all these to us as gifts. We had nothing to do but simply stop ignoring His gift of grace and receive it. We were drowning victims whose rescue depended on stopping all efforts to swim and trusting Him. Outside of grace, we were broken, failing, hurting, sinful, and wounded beings. Now, we are “justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom.3:24). By placing our trust in Him, we are forgiven from all sin, delivered from all darkness, liberated from bondages, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, made fully acceptable in God’s sight, and qualified for heaven.