Note: This post is part of a series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Click here to view all posts.
“Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing enough for God, whether your faith is strong enough or if you’ve made too many mistakes to be forgiven, then Ephesians 2:8-9 is a balm for your soul.
Here, God strips away every illusion that salvation can be earned. He doesn’t grade on a curve. He doesn’t keep a spiritual scoreboard. He simply says: “It is by grace you have been saved.”
Grace is undeserved love. It’s not something we climb toward. It’s something that came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ. We weren’t halfway to heaven when grace found us. Paul says we were “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Dead. Lifeless. Helpless. But God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. That’s not just poetic language. That’s the reality of what Jesus has done.
And how do we receive this salvation? Through faith. Not faith in ourselves. Not faith in our emotions or our decisions. But faith in Christ alone. Faith itself is not something we muster up from within; it’s a gift from God. Even the ability to believe is a work of his grace. This is why we have confidence—not in our spiritual performance, but in his perfect, completed work.
Why did God design salvation this way?
Paul says it clearly: “So that no one can boast.” In a world obsessed with achievements and self-made success, God flips the script. You don’t bring anything to the table of salvation except your need. Jesus brings everything else.
This frees us from the exhausting treadmill of spiritual comparison. You don’t need to wonder if you’ve prayed enough, volunteered enough, or been good enough. Jesus has done it all. His perfect obedience covers your failures. His sacrifice paid your debt. His resurrection secured your new life.
Does this mean good works don’t matter? Of course not. In the very next verse, Paul says we were “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). But those works are not the root of our salvation; they are the fruit. They don’t earn God’s love; they reflect it. They don’t build a ladder to heaven; they spring from the joy of already belonging to God.
So rest. Not in laziness, but in gospel freedom. You are saved. Fully. Completely. Eternally. By grace. Through faith. In Christ.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, thank you for saving me, not because of anything I’ve done but entirely because of your mercy. When I feel tempted to measure my worth by my performance, remind me that Jesus is my righteousness. Help me live with peace in your grace and reflect your love in my daily life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Discover what God wants you to know about the unsearchable riches of Christ, which are yours by faith, and the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge, Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, a devotional commentary by Pastor Roy W. Hefti.
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Scripture references come from the Holy Bible: Evangelical Heritage Version. Click here to learn more about this translation. Have questions about the Bible itself? Check out a helpful series here.
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