The truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone has been a part of the church now for almost 500 years. You would think we would understand it with clarity.
It’s been repeated and explained over and over in church after church. Countless sermons have been preached about it. Innumerable books have been written about it — and with this year being the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birthday, those have proliferated all the more (what will happen on the 500th anniversary of Luther’s Wittenberg theses in eight more years?).
And on one level, it is understood. Within the evangelical church, most would affirm that salvation is by grace and that there is nothing meritorious that can be done to bring about salvation.
Ephesians 2:10 affirms salvation by grace alone.
Yet a superficial reading might lead some to think that the good works of Ephesians 2:10 are salvific — that they contribute to our salvation. Yet a careful reading of the verse makes clear that is not possible for at least four reasons —
- The opening word “for” connects this verse with the previous verse. Thus, this verse provides the reason we cannot boast — because we are the workmanship of God.
- The pronoun “His” with the word “workmanship” emphasizes that the salvation is the work of God. Our salvation is not our own work or craft. And if we are His workmanship, then our salvation is not our own work, but the gift of God.
- In salvation, we are created “for good works,” not because of good works — i.e., good works follow salvation (they are our goal), they do not precede salvation.
- God is the One who “prepared beforehand” the good works for us. We did not offer them to Him. The very good things we do were in fact part of His eternal design for our lives.
Many understand this part clearly. Yet even among those who hold so well to salvation by grace alone, they still practice something that might be called “sanctification by works.” Yet just as there are no works that provide merit for the unbeliever, so there are no works that improve the merit of the believer.
One who is in Christ possesses the full righteousness of Christ — and nothing can improve that. Not obedience. Not love. Not sacrifice. Not service in the church. Nothing. The one in Christ is justified and sanctified and accepted by God because of Christ and Christ alone. Nothing we do can change that for good or ill.
That is not to say that works are unnecessary, for they are an integral part of the life of the believer. But it is to say that works will not improve our status before the Lord.
By grace alone, we are saved, sanctified, glorified and loved.
Words of Grace 