Lesson 2090

(Lesson 2090)(08-26-17)  Ephesians 2:1-10
    “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

    In today’s quote, Paul again affirmed that the eternal salvation of those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ comes from God as a gift, and cannot be determined by the physical works we might, or might not, do. “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.”
    Since water baptism and all idolatrous rituals are definitely physical “works”, this scripture rules out any possibility that any of them have anything to do with, either achieving or maintaining, one’s eternal salvation.
    Although absolute righteousness IS a requirement for eternal salvation, that righteousness can ONLY be achieved through FAITH in our Lord Jesus Christ; “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt, but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him the JUSTIFIETH the ungodly, his FAITH is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Romans 4:4-5)~