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EPHESIANS 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…
When people read Ephesians 2:8, we immediately think that “salvation” is the “gift” that is being spoken of here… Indeed, salvation is a gift from God. All good and perfect gifts come from Him. (James 1:17) However, let’s consider that “salvation” is not what Paul is speaking of here… He is not talking about salvation… He is talking about Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 says that you are “saved through faith”… Paul is talking about FAITH. Faith is the subject. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that (faith is) …not of yourselves; it (the faith) is the gift of God.” Paul is talking about having the faith to get Salvation. Ya gotta have faith first in order to receive the gift of Salvation… because there is no “grace” unless it is obtained “through faith”. “Faith” must be present in order to go through it to receive God’s Gift.
“So, …how do we get the “gift” of faith from God?” Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Ya have to “hear” the Word of God to get Faith… and once you have “faith” then you are in a position to receive salvation.
It’s really pretty simple when you stop to think about it… Salvation doesn’t just overtake the sinner… Faith must be present, and that only comes by hearing the Word of God… And so the Great Commission, as directed by the Lord, is for all Believers to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature… When the “Good News” is preached, people “hear” and faith evolves… which enables them to obtain salvation.
Faith is the “gift” that enables us to receive the “greater gift” of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8) God gets the gift of faith to us by the preaching of the Gospel.
Selah,
Rick & Sandy
thelambsway.org
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