Excerpt from Faith Alone in 100 Verses

By Robert N. Wilkin

[Editor’s Note: Robert Wilkin and the Grace Evangelical Society permitted TTVF Journal to reprint “Chapter Sixty-Three” of Wilkin’s book, Faith Alone in 100 Verses (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2020).]

Chapter Sixty-Three

Salvation by Grace Through Faith,
Apart from Works (Ephesians 2:8-9)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Saved by Grace Through Faith

Ephesians 2:8 is speaking of the past salvation of the readers. Paul uses a perfect tense (“you have been saved”). In Greek the perfect tense refers to something which occurred in the past and which has an abiding result. In Ephesians 2:8 the perfect tense means that the Christians in Ephesus were saved in the past; they are still saved now; and they will remain saved forever. Paul is saying that the readers have everlasting life that can never be lost.

How do we know that the salvation in Ephesians 2:8 refers to everlasting life? The first part of v 8 is a repetition of the end of Ephesians 2:5: “by grace you have been saved.” In Ephesians 2:5 that salvation is described as “He made us alive together with Christ.” Being made alive with Christ refers to the new birth, being born again.

The means by which this by grace salvation was received was “through faith.” While Paul does not specifically mention faith in Christ, that is clear from v 5.

The fact that eternal salvation is through faith is emphasized in the words that follow.

That Not of Yourselves

Some theologians suggest the words that not of yourselves refer to faith. However, the word faith (pistis) is feminine in Greek. But the word that (touto) is neuter. Neuter pronouns in Greek do not normally refer to feminine antecedents. Instead, neuter pronouns refer to the entire idea just stated (“by grace you have been saved”). Hoehner writes, “Rather than any particular word, it is best to conclude that touto refers back to the preceding section...
the concept of salvation by grace through faith.” [68]

Paul is saying that the salvation of the Ephesian believers is not of themselves. That is made clear in what he goes on to say.

It Is the Gift of God

The word it is not in the Greek. Literally, it reads,the gift of God. [69] Salvation is not of our own doing; it is the gift of God. That same teaching is found in the Lord Jesus’ words in John 4:10 to the woman at the well: “‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” He went on to explain that the gift of God is everlasting life (John 4:14). Salvation (everlasting life) is also called a gift in Rom 5:15-18; 6:23; Heb 6:4; Jas 1:17-18; and Rev 22:17.

Not of Works, Lest Anyone Should Boast

Still discussing salvation/everlasting life, Paul says that it is “not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In Galatians, Paul repeatedly said that justification is not of works. Here in Ephesians he says that regeneration is not of works. The fact that it is not of works means that there is no ground for boasting.

If you got into Christ’s kingdom because your works were better than the works of most people, then you’d have a basis for boasting. But since salvation is not of works—even works we do after we are born again —then boasting is eliminated. [70] Hoehner says, “From God’s vantage point it is grace,

not a human being’s works, that is the basis of salvation. From a human’s vantage point, it is faith and not works that is the means to salvation.” [71]

Salvation is by grace, through faith, and apart from works. It is faith alone.

Copyright © 2020 by Grace Evangelical Society