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. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

You may be surprised to learn that this is a resurrection statement that has to do with new life in Christ.

That’s right, Ephesians 2:8-9 is a resurrection verse. Allow me to prove it to you by examining with me, the context and flow of thought in which these words are said. Let’s begin with verse 15 of the previous chapter because chapter 2 begins in mid thought of what is already being said.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places …

Now let’s pause for just a moment and notice the words in bold. Paul is praying for the Ephesians to have revelation of the exceeding greatness of God’s power towards us who believe. And this power is according to the working of his mighty power, which he demonstrated in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.

Notice that Paul’s emphasis is believing on the One who raised Jesus from the dead. Paul uses this same language elsewhere in his letters as well.

But for us also, to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead… ~ Romans 4:24

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ~ Romans 10:9

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ~ Colossians 2:12

Now, certainly we are to have faith in Jesus because the New Testament speaks often of faith in Christ. However, I want to specifically point out that Paul expressively speaks of the work that God accomplished in raising Christ from the dead. This work of God is the context of the saved by grace statements in Ephesians.

Paul not only wants us to know what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, but Paul adds: and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, which is a point of emphasis in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Let’s continue:

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins…

Notice that Paul first speaks of Christ being raised from the dead and now he says, And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins. In Christ Jesus, the one who believes has been made alive from being dead in his trespasses and sins. This is the grace by which we are saved. It is being made alive and raised to new life in Christ out of sin and death! 

Let’s continue.

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 (lifestyle) 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:

Did you notice that? Look at it again: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)…

Let me say it again, the grace by which we are saved is specifically referring to being made alive with Christ out of being dead in our trespasses and sins.

Let’s continue:

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.

How often do we fixate on the part that says, not of works? This is especially emphasized by those who embrace doctrines such as Free Grace theology and use this verse as an eternal life insurance policy. Notice that Paul first says, not of yourselves. It is not of ourselves because we were all dead in our trespasses and sins. It is God who gives us life, thus it cannot be of ourselves.

In Galatians Paul drawing a distinction between the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus and the righteousness which comes by the works of the law says, Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ~ Galatians 3:21

The issue of being saved by grace and justified by faith is an issue of being raised to new life in Christ from our old life of being dead in sins. This is why it is such an insult to the truth of God when Christians choose to believe that they can have a moment of belief and go on sinning and still have the blessing of eternal life in God’s Kingdom after they die.

Notice again what Paul says in 2:2-3, 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 (lifestyle) 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.

There are some Christians, and Christian ministers that will argue that you can go on living according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and in the lusts of our flesh, and maintain eternal security. In fact Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of the “go -to” texts they’ll cite to defend this view, yet the saving grace that Paul is referring to has raised us up with Christ out of such living!

Now notice what Paul says right after telling us that we are saved by grace (which is being made alive together with Christ and seated with him in heavenly places).

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ~ v.10

Now let’s take a moment and consider this verse in view of being made alive with Christ. Paul says we are God’s workmanship. This is a reference to the exceeding greatness of his power that Paul prays that the Ephesians would know. Now, I want you to notice what follows: created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

We are created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works. These two (created in Christ Jesus and good works) are inseparable. If you are in Christ Jesus, if you have been given new life in Christ, you are created anew in Christ, by God, for good works. Now, I want you to see what is said next and pay close attention to the word in bold.

…which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The good works that Paul is referring to are not religious observances. He’s talking about a Christ-like life that we are to walk in. This is the opposite of walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.

Now consider Paul’s words from Colossians 3.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him… ~ Colossians 3:1-3

Notice the language of being risen with Christ and putting off the sins of the flesh that we once walked in. Paul’s words are not merely a suggestion for good Christian living which have no bearing on one’s salvation. They are the teachings of saving grace. In Titus 2, Paul tells us that saving grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. ~ Titus 2:11-14

Paul then tells Titus, These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. ~ v. 15

Now, I could keep going because there are more scriptures to cover, but I want to say something now that I would urge you to consider. I have notice that many Christians have a very unhealthy understanding of the meaning of the finished work of Christ. Typically they will say something like this:

I am saved because of the finished work of Christ. There is nothing I can do to add or take away from Christ’s finished work. I simply receive it by faith and I am saved. It doesn’t matter how I live, godly or sinful because my works cannot save me. My salvation is eternally secure because I have the promise of eternal life.

This way of thinking has gotten so out of hand that there are some Pastors who now teach against repentance of sin, and some Christians are argue for their version of grace from the position of the freedom to sin. Yet Paul says to the Romans, Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein? ~ Romans 1:1-2

Allow me to be abundantly clear, the finished work of Christ is the work of redemption in Christ which God completed through his death, burial, and resurrection. When Jesus uttered the words “it is finished” from the cross, he was referring to the work God sent him to accomplish. If you will simply follow all the references in the Gospel of John where Jesus speaks of the work that the Father sent him to accomplish, this comes abundantly clear.

The finished work of redemption in Christ was not yet complete when Jesus died on the cross, for if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:17

The finish work of redemption in Christ includes his death, burial, and resurrection along with his exaltation at the right hand of God. The resurrection isn’t just about coming out of the tomb, it’s also about being exalted victoriously at the right hand of God. And when God raised us up together with Christ and seated us with Christ in heavenly places, it wasn’t only about giving us life from sin and death. It was about victory over sin and the powers of darkness which previously held us captive.

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. ~ Romans 5:17

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son… ~ Colossians 1:12-13

We are victorious over the power of sin because of God’s grace.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. ~ Romans 6:10-15

Whenever anyone argues that they can go on sinning and not lose their salvation because of grace through the finished work of Christ, they are contradicting the teachings of scripture and practicing hypocrisy. In Titus, Paul speaks of those who profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ~ Titus 1:16

When a person is saved by the grace of God, they are given a new heart and a new spirit, and they become the temple of God’s Holy Spirit, so that they can now walk in new life bearing fruit for the glory of our Father in Heaven.

The evidence of true faith in the finished work of Christ is that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead, has raised us up with him, and now lives in us to give us victory over the old life he redeemed us out of.

Those who are saved by grace ought to be living by the grace that saved them.