In the first 3 verses of chapter 2 of his inspired letter to the Ephesian Christians, Paul states that we all die spiritually because of our sin. Our sin makes us the natural objects of God’s wrath. But God was not content to leave us in a dead state. In verses 4 and 5 Paul writes, “ But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”
There are several things worth noting in these verses. One is that even though we sinners deserve God’s wrath, He does not want to subject us to it. He loves us even though we have sinned against Him. As He said through the prophet Ezekiel, “…I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live…” (Ezekiel 33:11 NIV)
Secondly, it is God who made us alive. It was not something which we were able to accomplish by ourselves.
Thirdly, God made us alive with Christ. Sin must always be paid for. Christ the innocent, took on the penalty of us who were guilty. God cannot, and will not, grant us a new spiritual life until we accept the payment Christ made on our behalf. As Scripture says, “…For if we died with him, we will also live with him.” (2 Timothy 2:11 NIV)
Fourthly, we do not deserve the life that God gives. It is only through His mercy and grace that He made us alive.
God has done more for those who follow Christ than give them new spiritual life. In verses 6 and 7 Paul writes, “and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;” God not only gives new spiritual life to those who were dead because of their sin, He honors and exalts them with the same honor He has given Christ. In chapter 1, verse 20 Paul had written that God “made him [that is, Christ] to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places.” Here Paul writes that those to whom God has given new life are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. Paul writes as if this honor is an accomplished fact. This is not a promise to which the followers of Christ look forward, but it is their present condition. This world often looks down on and dishonors those who follow Christ. But in reality God has given them the highest honor.
Paul also speaks of the future when he writes about the grace God will show Christ’s followers “in the ages to come .” The Apostle John also writes about this grace. He says, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.” (1 John 3:2 NIV) God not only resurrects the followers of Christ from spiritual death, but is in the process of transforming them to become like Himself.
In verses 8 through 10, the Apostle Paul goes on to tell us by what means God saves those follow Christ. He writes, “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”
Paul says that God saves us through His grace. From this we can see that God is not obligated to save us. Salvation is undeserved. God saves because He wishes to, not because He must. But while salvation is both initiated and provided by God, salvation is also dependent upon each one of us. Paul writes that we have been saved through faith. The implication is clear: It is only those who believe who are saved. If I refuse to believe, I will not be saved. Even faith, however, is not self-generated. It is God who enables us to believe as Paul says in verse 8, “…and that not of yourselves…” In another place Paul wrote “For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13 NIV) This is why Paul calls salvation a gift. Both the opportunity for salvation and the ability to accept it come from God. It is truly a gift for we also have the choice to accept or reject it.
But why must we accept salvation as a gift? Can we not perform meritorious acts which will earn salvation? No. Paul makes it clear that God does not accept man’s works. This is an important concept to understand. Many people have the idea that they can do certain works or acts which will counterbalance or wipe out any sin they may have committed. But this concept is wrong. We can never wipe out sin or earn salvation by what we do. If we do good, we have only done what God expects us to do. We can never place God under obligation to us. Jesus explained it to his disciples this way, “But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’ and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10 NIV)
Another reason God will not accept man’s work is that He does not want people to boast. God wishes us to come to Him in humility. He wants us to rely on Him and not our own efforts. In another place Scripture says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 NIV)
If our own good works will not save us, then are we excused from doing them? Not at all. Paul makes it very clear that the followers of Christ are God’s workmanship, created to do good works which God has prepared in advance. The word translated ‘workmanship’ actually expresses the idea of a work of art or a masterpiece. By looking at a work of art one should be able to recognize the artist. The follower of Christ does good works not as a means to obtain salvation but as a manifestation of it. He is in the process of becoming like God. Each one of us needs to examine why we do good works. Are we trying to earn salvation? Or do we do them because we are like the One who gave us life us through Christ?