1. Salvation By Grace Through Faith
Eph 2:1-9 Dead, Now Alive
Perhaps most widely quoted verse
Certainly most misunderstood
Must not let beauty be lost
Attempts to twist it
salvation wholly by grace
salvation by faith only
man is totally passive
faith is a gift of God to the elect
all works are excluded

2. Eph 2:8-9 Harmonizes with All Scripture
Cannot isolate from rest of Bible
Cannot contradict other scripture
Definition must be consistent
Wholly of Grace? But Luke 13:3
By Faith only? But James 2:14-24
Man is passive? But Acts 2:37-38
Faith is a gift of God? But Rom 10:17
All works excluded? But Jn 6:29; 8:39; James 2:24

3. Understanding Grace
Definition “unmerited favor” - a gift as distinct from debt
Rom 4:4
But a gift may carry conditions
As $1 Million to college - condition: put name on a building
Meeting conditions does not “earn” or “merit” the gift
Salvation is a gift, with a condition

4. Salvation is a Gift According to God’s purpose 2 Tim. 1:9-10 not works
Rom 3:24 in Christ
Through the gospel Acts 20:24, 32
Tit 2:11-12 thus, grace “teaches”
2 Thes 2:14 called by gospel
Books of Acts: record of preaching about the grace of God
Story of grace Acts 2:14-47

5. Divine Formula: Grace + Faith
It is not “wholly” by grace v. 8
Grace (God’s part) reaches down
Faith (Man’s part) reaches up
Definition: Faith Heb. 11:1; Rom 10:17
A faith that obeys Heb. 11; Gal 5:6; Ja 2:18, 22, 24
Faith is the channel for grace Rom 5:1-2
Riches of grace bestowed Eph 1:7