DAILY DEVOTION, December 8, 2021

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is one of my favorite salvation verses. I have used it often at funerals. The word “grace” refers to God giving us what we do not deserve. We do not deserve God’s love and forgiveness. God could justly cast us away from His presence forever, and we would have no basis to complain. That is what we deserve. Paul writes, “the wages of sin is death,” and we have all earned our wages. Salvation is God’s gift to us, given to all who believe in His Son. When we confess our faith in Jesus, we are lifted out of spiritual darkness and into the light of God’s love. That is God’s gift to us.

If we boast about our Christian faith, we are confused. Our good works fall so far short of God’s standard that we should feel only shame. God does not save us because we are good but because He is good. Who can receive this gift? Anyone who trusts in Jesus. God does not want any of us to perish. Therefore,  all are invited to repent and believe (2 Peter 3:9). While Christians do good works, they add nothing to our salvation. That is God’s gift to us.

Gracious Father, I have no words to adequately express my gratitude to You for the gift of salvation. I do trust in Jesus. May His name be honored forever, Amen.