“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV)
Imagine a man lost at sea, waves towering above him, his strength fading, moments from sinking beneath the water. Then, a rescue ship appears and a rope is thrown. He grabs it and is saved, not because he swam halfway to safety, but because it is his only hope. He did not earn the rescue; he simply received it. That is a picture of salvation.
Salvation is a gift of God, not a wage earned by moral performance or religious observance. The Bible declares that we are saved by grace through faith, not from ourselves, but as the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8–9).
This often raises the question: If good works do not save us, why bother with them? The answer is simple: good works are not the cause of salvation, but the evidence of it. Faith is the root; works are the fruit. James reminds us that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). There is no contradiction between James and Paul; Paul warns against relying on works for salvation, while James warns against a profession of faith that produces no change.
Think of it this way: if you genuinely believe the lifeguard has saved your life, your life will be forever shaped by gratitude. That gratitude will naturally show in the way you live. We do not work to earn the rescue; we work because we have been rescued.
This truth is worth defending because throughout history, false teachings have either added to or subtracted from the Gospel. Some insist that one must obey specific laws, perform rituals, and reach a moral standard to be saved. Others believe that belief in Christ doesn’t need to create visible change in their lives. Both distort the truth.
The reality is that Jesus Christ finished the work on the cross. When He cried, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the debt was fully paid. Our part is to believe and receive. However, genuine faith will always produce transformation, a life marked by obedience, love, and service to God.
Dear believer, if you have been relying on your good deeds to make you right with God, stop striving; they will never be enough to save you. And if you have professed faith without a life that bears fruit, it is time to examine your heart. Salvation is not secured by the strength of your grip on the rope, but by the power of the One who pulls you in.
Bible Reading Plan: Psalm 99 -102, Revelation 7