For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
It is evident from studying the Bible that God had a plan and his plans were carried out exactly when and how He desired (Eph 1:10). God’s grace has always been a foundational element in his salvation of mankind. In Genesis 6, we first find grace used as a word even though it was evident from the beginning. Noah found grace in the eyes of God (Gen 6:8) and that grace led to a plan for a physical structure that would save mankind physically. God’s grace is poured out on all men spiritually through Jesus Christ just as God had planned all along, which is the theme of Ephesians 1, the chapter that preceded our text verse for this article. While some choose to apply wrong definitions to words used, the message is God planned all along to save us with the gracious gift of Christ (Rom 5:15).
Our reaction to God’s grace must be that which was demonstrated by the faithful all the way back to Noah, act upon it (Gen 6:22). One is not reaping the rewards of God’s grace except those who are saved in the plan God set forth from the beginning (2 Tim 1:8-10) unless we are committed to faithfulness which is the stipulation set forth in the book of Ephesians. From the first verse in Ephesians 1:1 it states, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus”. I had the principle of grace etched into my mind as a young boy. A preacher one Sunday morning when I was around 10 years old was speaking on God’s grace. He abruptly stopped, reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill, and told everyone this is how God uses grace. He instructed me to come get the dollar. After my parents told me I could, I retrieved the dollar and returned to my seat. Then he explained that the dollar is a gift from him to me. I did nothing to earn it, but to receive it, I had to act upon my instruction to come to him to get it.
God’s grace makes Him known to us, gives us a plan by which we are saved, and supplies mankind’s every need, both physical and spiritual. Still we must do our part, trust and obey. Only by doing so will we be utilizing God’s grace as He planned.
By Jason Barger