Ephesians 2:8-10

2:8

For – what follows gives the reasons/bases for the foregoing

it is by grace – This gifting of my salvation remains a difficult proposition. I have slandered and tarnished the name of Christ so horribly. I have done things I cannot bring myself to admit to anyone. And I have stood the next day to lead worship and preach from God’s holy Word. I should not even be alive now, much less to have the hope of salvation by any means. But when I face the truth of this verse, it just stops me in my tracks.

you have been – past tense, already accomplished

saved – From hell, yes. But more: Saved from a life of shame, self-degradation. Does it also save me from a life of failure and futility? It has raised me out of the pit of bitterness and all its tentacles already. What more will he save me from?

through faith – Seeing the invisible, what cannot be seen; touching the intangible, what cannot be handled. Faith is given; I must exercise, employ, apply it

and – added thought

this – What is the antecedent of “this”? Grace? Saved? Faith? All of the above? I asked Nancy about the antecedent (She is an expert in grammar). She said it refers to “saved”. But it is also true that all three are gifts—not from, by or of myself, but only from God.

not from yourselves – Even having preached this concept so many times, I still confess the tendency to think and act contrarily. If my salvation is totally from God, why do I doubt him?

it is the gift – Sometimes we redundantly say “free gift.” But I need that redundant emphasis. I act/think like I have to do something for the gift.

2:9

not by works – Still we are called to do good works. But Paul teaches that good works come from God’s gift of faith (see Romans 1)

so that – consequence

no one can boast – I am not at this place. At least I think I am not here.

2:10

For – Reason for the foregoing, i.e., gift of salvation

we - collectively

are - present tense, even to this day I and we collectively continue to be...

God’s workmanship – Artistic creation, rather than me working to please God, He has worked to create us

created in Christ Jesus – Plural pronouns before and after this phrase recall the group aspect to our calling. In a sense, I am God’s workmanship. But this passage says we—not just I—are God’s creation in Christ Jesus.

to do – created for a purpose

good works – Our/my good works are the result of God’s work in us/me, not vice-versa

which – viz., the good works

God prepared – He still has a plan for us/me

in advance – sounds redundant, but it emphasizes the aspect of planning

for us to do – Again, it is not just a matter of me doing something, but rather

us—the body of Christ—doing what God planned for us to do.