The Pilgrim Path---Ephesians 2: 8, 9 (2—12—24)

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

“…THE GIFT OF GOD”

Our arrival in Heaven will be incredible. Such beauty, glory, majesty, and freedom. The presence of The Living Christ---the treasure of the ages. We will know more than we have ever known that He--- is our righteousness and redemption. He is the reason we are accepted in The Beloved. We will cry---but He will wipe every tear from our eyes…

From St. John Chrysostom: In case the greatness of God’s blessings lavished on you lifts you too high, see how Paul humbles you again: “by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2: 8 & 9).Then again, so that our own free agency shouldn’t be harmed, he adds our own part in the work— “through faith.” But again he cancels it, adding, “and that not of ourselves.” He means that our very faith is not “of ourselves.” If God hadn’t come to us, if God hadn’t called us, how could we have believed? “How shall they believe, unless they hear?” (Rom. 10: 14). Thus, the work of faith isn’t our own. “It is the gift,” Paul says, “of God.” He adds, salvation is “not of works.”

Grace & peace in Jesus, The Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason