For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

Lately, I am realizing that we assume we have a clear understanding of salvation, but perhaps we don’t. The Apostle Paul here tells us here that we are saved by grace. The word Grace is the Greek word chárismeaning “…A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.”^[1] In other words; we don’t deserve salvation. It is a gift from God. 

Paul also tells us about another element of salvation. This other element of salvation is called faith. The question is whose faith? Faith is the Greek word pístis; meaning “Conviction, belief in the truth.”^[2] To have faith is to trust. When we are saved God give us the gift of believing the gospel; the good news, that Jesus died for our sins, that the Father resurrected Him on the third day and that He is now at the right hand of the Father as, not only Savor, but also Lord. 

We can’t ignore the word “Through”. This is the Greek word diá meaning, “Motion or movement through a place, going and coming. To pass through, to travel through, to walk through, to go in, to proceed from, to depart, to return to or from. With many other verbs this word is implying motion.^[3] Faith, is not stagnated; it is constantly challenged. We are saved through faith! This means that our faith is visible because is constantly in motion as we go about our daily lives. Faith is manifested in such challenges, without those challenges there is no need for faith. People who are constantly falling apart with the most minimal opposition or folks who are refusing to pass through, travel through, walk through, go in, proceed from, depart or return to or from are stagnated; they are without faith; therefore me must question there salvation because in salvation God blessed us with the gift of faith to believe.  

It is by grace and through faith that we fulfill our ultimate purpose: good works. We, as believers, are called to do something with that grace and that faith God gave you. This is why the Bible tells us in Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” (ESV) By Jesus’ work on the cross we are saved from hell; HE paid the price.  The fruit of that salvation is manifest in motion through faith; that is the working out of our salvation; motion is expressed in good works and in an unshakable trust in God no matter the circumstances. James clarifies this point when he states,

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:14-18 (NIV)

You see it? James tells us, “…I will show you my faith by my deeds.” Faith, as stated before, is visible. Our works do not save us, for Paul is clear in teaching us that we are not save by works, but our works are the natural result of the amazing gift of salvation we received from God BY Grace THROUGH Faith.

^[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[2] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

^[3] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).