Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV):
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Context:
This passage is part of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, where he is emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through human effort or good works.
Meaning:
The verse highlights that salvation is entirely based on God's grace and faith, not on any merit or actions of the individual, ensuring that no one can pride themselves on having earned their salvation.
salvation is entirely based on God's grace and faith
The faith vs acts doctrinal conflict weighs in here. The fundamental problem, imo, is a failure to understand how God invested a portion of responsibility to his children. As creator, God bears the responsibility for his creation, but he created his children to be co-creators, along side and in unity with him.
God's will, in this way, is a joint project, that requires the unity of man with God. There is God's 'responsibility' and man's 'responsibility'. God does not interfere with our responsibility.
The Fall, however, removed our ability to fulfill our responsibility. For that reason, salvation cannot be won. It cannot be earned. It comes from God as a grace, a gift, on the foundation of His forgiveness.
However, we still have a responsibility before God. This is to receive. God cannot force anyone to receive salvation. He leaves that choice up to the individual. If He did not, this would reduce us to animals, to being robots, with no free will.
Therefore, salvation is given as a grace, but we still need to receive it. We MUST make that effort, that choice, that decision. Another way to think of this is that salvation is a door. It is offered to us, and there is nothing we can do to demand it. But even when that door that is offered, we still have a responsibility (aka choice) to walk through that door.
When we make that choice, we conditionally re-establish that relationship with God wherein we cooperatively work and live with Him, to actualize his will.
I know the Calvinists will chafe at this idea, but there is oodles of scriptural evidence helping us to understand this. I mean, why even pray, if God's will is automatic? Christ teaches us to pray "Thy Kingdom Come..." That prayer is one way we actively invest our responsibility to help God's will. I don't know about others, but I pray (almost) every day for God's kingdom to come even one day sooner.
Through the doorway....
I believe that when someone makes an effort, for example, looks at their life, and repents, and reaches out to God, that God will often respond. Often, he is waiting for us to make the first move. Why? because he honors the responsibility he gave to us. Responsibility in this sense = Choice = Free will. There is no free will without responsibility.
That's not to say that salvation or God's grace is thanks to our efforts. No, no. But a Father who loves his children can be moved by the child reaching out to him, and at that point, the free gift is offered by He who keeps all His promises.
I raise this point because at the end of the day, this aspect of our relationship with God needs to be understood. Some folks go too far one way: Everything is by God, and I don't have any responsibility here. Others go too far the other way: I need to be [X] for God to accept me and love me.
Neither is correct. In the end, it is not within the realm of our responsibility to earn God's grace. Like life, it is a gift given wholly by the Creator., and certain scriptures highlight this. But also, within his design and plans, we have a responsibility to believe, accept, unite with Him, and grow towards a closer and closer union. Other scriptures emphasize this. "Pray. Fast. Love one another". I believe that it's in the fulfillment of that 'responsibility' that God finds the greatest joy and also comfort.
He longs for us to accept his Gift, but he will never force it. The greatest gift we can offer in return to him is to accept, to choose to accept, his gift, his love. And to always, constantly, reach out to him.
$0.02
PS. No comment on the televangelist. I'm inclined to agree with someone who wrote: Let God deal with it. Because God works in mysterious ways, and for certain, his anointing is on Donald Trump. So I will watch, and wait, and pray. I ain't planning on coughing up the one grand, tho, you can be sure. kek.
NO!!! RIGHT HERE LADY!
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV): "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Context:
This passage is part of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, where he is emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through human effort or good works.
Meaning: The verse highlights that salvation is entirely based on God's grace and faith, not on any merit or actions of the individual, ensuring that no one can pride themselves on having earned their salvation.
The faith vs acts doctrinal conflict weighs in here. The fundamental problem, imo, is a failure to understand how God invested a portion of responsibility to his children. As creator, God bears the responsibility for his creation, but he created his children to be co-creators, along side and in unity with him.
God's will, in this way, is a joint project, that requires the unity of man with God. There is God's 'responsibility' and man's 'responsibility'. God does not interfere with our responsibility.
The Fall, however, removed our ability to fulfill our responsibility. For that reason, salvation cannot be won. It cannot be earned. It comes from God as a grace, a gift, on the foundation of His forgiveness.
However, we still have a responsibility before God. This is to receive. God cannot force anyone to receive salvation. He leaves that choice up to the individual. If He did not, this would reduce us to animals, to being robots, with no free will.
Therefore, salvation is given as a grace, but we still need to receive it. We MUST make that effort, that choice, that decision. Another way to think of this is that salvation is a door. It is offered to us, and there is nothing we can do to demand it. But even when that door that is offered, we still have a responsibility (aka choice) to walk through that door.
When we make that choice, we conditionally re-establish that relationship with God wherein we cooperatively work and live with Him, to actualize his will.
I know the Calvinists will chafe at this idea, but there is oodles of scriptural evidence helping us to understand this. I mean, why even pray, if God's will is automatic? Christ teaches us to pray "Thy Kingdom Come..." That prayer is one way we actively invest our responsibility to help God's will. I don't know about others, but I pray (almost) every day for God's kingdom to come even one day sooner.
Through the doorway....
I believe that when someone makes an effort, for example, looks at their life, and repents, and reaches out to God, that God will often respond. Often, he is waiting for us to make the first move. Why? because he honors the responsibility he gave to us. Responsibility in this sense = Choice = Free will. There is no free will without responsibility.
That's not to say that salvation or God's grace is thanks to our efforts. No, no. But a Father who loves his children can be moved by the child reaching out to him, and at that point, the free gift is offered by He who keeps all His promises.
I raise this point because at the end of the day, this aspect of our relationship with God needs to be understood. Some folks go too far one way: Everything is by God, and I don't have any responsibility here. Others go too far the other way: I need to be [X] for God to accept me and love me.
Neither is correct. In the end, it is not within the realm of our responsibility to earn God's grace. Like life, it is a gift given wholly by the Creator., and certain scriptures highlight this. But also, within his design and plans, we have a responsibility to believe, accept, unite with Him, and grow towards a closer and closer union. Other scriptures emphasize this. "Pray. Fast. Love one another". I believe that it's in the fulfillment of that 'responsibility' that God finds the greatest joy and also comfort.
He longs for us to accept his Gift, but he will never force it. The greatest gift we can offer in return to him is to accept, to choose to accept, his gift, his love. And to always, constantly, reach out to him.
$0.02
PS. No comment on the televangelist. I'm inclined to agree with someone who wrote: Let God deal with it. Because God works in mysterious ways, and for certain, his anointing is on Donald Trump. So I will watch, and wait, and pray. I ain't planning on coughing up the one grand, tho, you can be sure. kek.
Beautiful reply.
Yes. Exactly.
Amen!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻