For it is by grace you have been savedThis phrase emphasizes the unmerited favor of God as the basis for salvation. Grace, in the biblical context, refers to God's kindness and love extended to humanity, despite their sinfulness. This concept is rooted in the Old Testament, where God's grace is evident in His covenant with Israel (
Exodus 34:6-7). The New Testament further reveals this grace through Jesus Christ, who embodies God's grace (
John 1:14). Salvation by grace underscores that human efforts or works cannot achieve redemption; it is solely a divine act.
through faith
Faith is the means by which individuals receive God's grace. It involves trust and reliance on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross.Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. This faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep-seated trust in God's promises. The Apostle Paul, who authored Ephesians, often contrasts faith with works, emphasizing that faith is the channel through which grace is received (Romans 3:28).
and this not from yourselves;
This phrase highlights that salvation is not a result of human effort or merit. It counters any notion of self-reliance or self-righteousness. In the cultural context of Ephesus, where various religious practices and philosophies promoted self-improvement and works-based righteousness, this statement would have been countercultural. It aligns with Paul's broader theological argument that human boasting is excluded in the economy of salvation (1 Corinthians 1:29).
it is the gift of God,
Salvation is described as a gift, emphasizing its gratuitous nature. A gift, by definition, is something given freely, not earned or deserved. This concept is central to the Christian understanding of God's love and generosity. The idea of a divine gift is echoed in other scriptures, such asRomans 6:23, which contrasts the wages of sin with the gift of eternal life. This gift is ultimately realized in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate expression of God's love and grace to humanity.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul was a key figure in the early Christian church, known for his missionary journeys and theological teachings.
2.
EphesusA major city in Asia Minor where the early church was established. It was known for its diverse population and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
3.
The Ephesian ChurchThe recipients of Paul's letter, this early Christian community faced challenges from both pagan influences and internal doctrinal issues.
Teaching Points
Grace as a Divine GiftSalvation is not something we can earn; it is a gift from God. The Greek word for "grace" (charis) implies favor and kindness that is undeserved.
Faith as the Means of Receiving GraceFaith is the channel through which we receive God's grace. The Greek term for "faith" (pistis) suggests trust and reliance on God.
Humility in SalvationRecognizing that salvation is not from ourselves fosters humility. We are reminded that our efforts are insufficient without God's intervention.
The Assurance of SalvationUnderstanding salvation as a gift provides assurance and security in our relationship with God, knowing it is not dependent on our fluctuating efforts.
Living in Response to GraceOur response to receiving grace should be a life of gratitude and obedience, reflecting the transformative power of God's gift.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Ephesians 2:8?
2.How does Ephesians 2:8 emphasize salvation as a gift from God?
3.What role does faith play in receiving grace according to Ephesians 2:8?
4.How can Ephesians 2:8 guide us in resisting works-based salvation?
5.How does Ephesians 2:8 connect with Romans 3:24 on justification by grace?
6.How can you apply the truth of Ephesians 2:8 in daily life?
7.How does Ephesians 2:8 define the role of faith in salvation?
8.What does "by grace you have been saved" mean in Ephesians 2:8?
9.How does Ephesians 2:8 challenge the concept of earning salvation through works?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ephesians 2?
11.86-100. [More on request]
12.What is the definition of Saving Grace?
13.Paul and James seem to contradict each other—Paul says salvation is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), but James says faith without works is dead (James 2:26).
14.Do you recall being saved?What Does Ephesians 2:8 Mean
For it is by graceGrace is God’s pure, unearned favor poured out on people who could never deserve it. Paul’s opening phrase points the spotlight squarely on what God initiates, not what we manufacture.
•Titus 2:11 reminds us, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men”.
•Romans 3:24 declares we are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”.
• In2 Timothy 1:9 Paul underscores that God “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began”.
Every angle of redemption begins with this astonishing, divine kindness.
you have been savedThe verb is completed—believers already possess rescue from sin’s penalty and power.
•Romans 5:9 affirms, “Having now been justified by His blood, we will be saved from wrath through Him”.
•Acts 4:12 insists, “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved”.
•1 John 5:13 encourages assurance: “You who believe in the name of the Son of God… may know that you have eternal life”.
Salvation is not a future hope we must earn; it is a finished reality secured by Christ’s cross and empty tomb.
through faithFaith is the channel, never the cause, of salvation. It is trusting reliance on Jesus—resting, not striving.
•Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
•Galatians 2:16 stresses that “a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ”.
•John 1:12 promises, “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”.
Faith reaches out empty-handed and receives what grace freely provides.
and this not from yourselvesPaul shuts the door on self-reliance. No personal pedigree, labor, or ritual can spark salvation.
•Titus 3:5: “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy”.
•Romans 9:16 concludes, “It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy”.
•1 Corinthians 1:29-31 states God’s purpose “so that no one may boast in His presence… Let him who boasts boast in the Lord”.
Our bankruptcy highlights God’s sufficiency.
it is the gift of GodSalvation is presented like an undeserved present, lovingly wrapped by the Father and handed to anyone who will receive it.
•Romans 6:23 contrasts wages and grace: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
•James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights”.
•2 Corinthians 9:15 bursts into praise: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”.
A true gift is never repaid; it’s simply accepted with gratitude, and this is exactly how God’s rescue operates.
summaryEphesians 2:8 gathers the gospel in a single sentence: God’s grace initiates, faith receives, and the entire package—salvation itself—arrives as a free, unearned gift. Nothing originates in human effort; everything flows from the Father’s loving heart through the finished work of Jesus. The verse calls us to rest in that grace, rejoice in that rescue, and live each day in grateful dependence on the God who gave it all.
(1
b.)
Ephesians 2:8-10 (taking up and working out the parenthetical "by grace ye are saved" of
Ephesians 2:5) form an instructive link of connection between these Epistles and those of the earlier group, especially the Epistles to the Galatians and Romans. (Comp.
Philippians 3:9.) In both there is the same doctrine of "Justification by Faith," the same denial of the merit of good works, the same connection of good works with the grace of God in us. But what is there anxiously and passionately contended for, is here briefly summarised, and calmly assumed as a thing known and allowed. Even the technical phrases--the word "justification," and the declaration of the nullity of "the Law"--are no longer used.
(8)By grace are ye saved through faith.--Properly,ye have been saved; ye were saved at first, and continue in a state of salvation. InEphesians 2:5 this thought is introduced parenthetically, naturally and irresistibly suggested by the declaration of the various steps of regeneration in Christ. St. Paul now returns to it and works it out, before passing on, inEphesians 2:11, to draw out by "wherefore" the conclusion fromEphesians 2:1-7. Remembering how the Epistles were written from dictation, we may be inclined to see in this passage among others, an insertion made by the Apostle, on a revision of that already written. . . .
Verse 8. -
For by grace have ye been saved, through faith. He repeats what he had said parenthetically (ver. 5), in order to open the subject up more fully. On the part of God, salvation is by grace; on the part of man, it is through faith. It does not come to us by an involuntary act, as light falls on our eyes, sounds on our ears, or air enters our lungs. When we are so far enlightened as to understand about it, there must be a personal reception of salvation by us, and that is by faith. Faith at once believes the good news of a free salvation through Christ, and accepts Christ as the Savior. We commit ourselves to him, trust ourselves to him for that salvation of which he is the Author. In the act of thus entrusting ourselves to him for his salvation, we receive the benefit, and are saved. It is not that faith is accepted by God in place of works, but because faith indicates that attitude of men towards Christ in which it pleases God to save them, transferring to him all their guilt, imputing to them all his merit.
And that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Which of the two things is meant - salvation or faith? The grammatical structure and the analogy of the passage favor the former view, "Your salvation is not of yourselves," though many able men have taken the latter. The apostle is so anxious to bring out the great distinguishing doctrine of grace that he puts it in all lights, affirms it positively, contrasts it with its opposite, and emphasizes it by repetition. It is a gift, not a purchase; a free gift, without money and without price; what would never have been yours, but for the generosity of God. It is very usual in the New Testament thus to represent salvation; cf. our Lord's words to Nicodemus (
John 3:16); to the woman of Samaria (
John 4:14); St. Paul's "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift" (
2 Corinthians 9:15); "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (
Romans 6:23); and
1 John 5:11, "God
gave unto us eternal life, and the life is in his Son." This usage confirms the view that it is not merely faith, but the whole work and person of Christ which faith receives, that is meant here as the "gift of God."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
For [it is]γὰρ(gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.by graceχάριτί(chariti)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485:From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.you have beenἐστε(este)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.savedσεσῳσμένοι(sesōsmenoi)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4982:To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.throughδιὰ(dia)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.faith,πίστεως(pisteōs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102:Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.thisτοῦτο(touto)Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.notοὐκ(ouk)Adverb
Strong's 3756:No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.fromἐξ(ex)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.yourselves;ὑμῶν(hymōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.[it is] theτὸ(to)Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.giftδῶρον(dōron)Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1435:A gift, present. A present; specially, a sacrifice.of God,Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Letters: Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved (Ephes. Eph. Ep) 
