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NASB | Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace [God's remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; |
Bible Question: Can we say that the gospel is the grace of God? |
Bible Answer: A wholehearted "YES!" Acts 20:24 says "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." The word "gospel" means "good message." Anything less than our salvation by God's grace is NOT a "good message." If our reconcilation with God could have been obtained any other way, i.e., if there was something God could have required of us that we could have done, He would NOT have had to send Jesus. But there wasn't, so He did! Remember in Acts 15 how "certain men who came down from Judaea" were causing problems because these men were teaching the Gentile believers that they had to be circumcised AND keep the law of Moses. What did Peter say concerning this? "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." God's salvation by grace is so simple to understand, but man messes it up because he always wants to DO something to EARN his eternal life. But salvation is a free gift from God in Christ Jesus. You can't "earn" something that is free and is a gift, right? That's what makes it great news! -smile- Have a blessed day! Mrs B. (Donna) in Georgia |