One of the greatest NT passages about grace is Eph 2:8-9. In these verses, Paul says that we have been saved by grace. It is all through faith–a person’s believing in Jesus Christ for eternal life. It was a gift of God. Paul specifically says that works played no part whatsoever in it. As a result, no believer has the right to boast–brag–about it. In fact, Paul mentions the word grace a second time. He could not state any more clearly that the salvation of which he speaks is all by grace and that good works have nothing to do with it.
In recent years, I’ve come to see in a much clearer way that the Book of Ephesians talks about the Church, and this theme is present even in Ephesians 2. What Paul says about works is that we–the Church–are the masterpiece of God’s work. He created the Church so that it would walk in good works.
One could say that God saved us and placed us in the Church so that we would do the works He desires as a corporate body of believers. We are not to be “Lone Ranger” Christians. Both Jewish and Gentile believers are to be united in this endeavor. Believers are to be at peace with one another.
Whether the believers in the church at Ephesus, or we believers today, follow Paul’s teachings or not, one thing is clear: The salvation that placed us in the Body of Christ was totally by grace. Another way of saying it is that we were delivered from the lake of fire by grace. That is why it’s a gift. While we are called to do good works, those works must be kept separate from the message of “by grace through faith” salvation.
It will probably come as no surprise that many in Evangelicalism reject the truth that eternal life is given as a gift by grace. There is a compulsion to add works. I recently read some comments on Eph 2:8-9 from a respected Evangelical scholar. He says that the Greek phrase “by grace you have been saved” signifies that the “effects of salvation are an ongoing process.” This salvation is like getting into a lifeboat from a sinking ship. The voyage in the lifeboat is the “working out of our salvation” (Phil 2:12).
In a bold example of sophistry, this writer says that in Ephesians 2 Paul is saying that we cannot work for our salvation, but that we must work out our salvation. His words lead us to the conclusion that the salvation in Ephesians 2:8-9 is not by grace, and that it does involve works. He states that this “salvation is not totally automatic” and that “serious effort is involved once it has begun.” He adds that our good works involve “struggling” through the sanctification part of that salvation, and that they “authenticate” that we are saved.
The writer says that the salvation in Ephesians 2 has not reached its consummation. Since it is a process that involves great struggle and good works, the Greek phrase should be translated, “by grace you are being saved.”
Leaving aside the intricacies of the Greek verb having been saved, I just have to admit that I’m not smart enough to understand such nuances. I have to think that there are a lot of people like me out there. I realize what this scholar is saying only because I’ve read this view in many other places and have heard it preached as well.
I’ll summarize it in a way I can understand: “We are saved by grace and not works. But if you don’t have those works, you aren’t really saved. Your good works will get you to final salvation. It is a struggle. You cannot know if you have this salvation until the process is over. But God’s grace will get you through the process if you are saved. Works won’t save you, but are necessary to get you through the process. So work it out! If you are one of those people who will complete the long journey in the lifeboat, you can thank God for this wonderful gift given by His marvelous grace. But in any event, don’t get cocky. You have not been saved. But if you are one who will make it through the struggle, you are currently being saved.”
I know that some readers will be able to better summarize the argument, and I know millions claim to find comfort in such a theology, however it’s worded. But to me, this is mumbo jumbo. It’s like trying to have your cake (you are saved by grace, not works!) and eat it, too (but you must have works!).
I find no comfort in what this author says. I think he takes a beautiful passage on the marvelous grace of God and distorts it to the point of unrecognizability. Grace becomes so perverted that it is no longer grace. I think a title in the GES bookstore summarizes it beautifully in just three words: Grace in Eclipse.
