"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).
Paul is addressing born again Christians at Ephesus and is reminding them that no amount of good works can bring about their salvation because it is a brought about by means of grace (unwarranted merit, undeserved kindness) shown by God to those place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Salvation is not something that can be earned. Rather, it is the free gift of God given to those who trust in Him, made possible by Jesus' death upon the cross at Calvary. This gift of salvation is made available to all Mankind, but must be received individually by faith by each person if they desire to be saved, and it must be done during this lifetime, for after death, there is no second chance - only judgment and condemnation for those who rejected salvation this side of eternity (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:11-15).
Rev. Jack Howell
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
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