Gospel of The Mystery
...and to make all men see what is the Dispensation of the Mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things. - Eph. 3:9
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - 2 Tim. 2:15
November 10, 2021
Grace
by Michael Paz
“For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
Grace is God's gift. It is not from fallen man. It can only be exhibited by one who is already saved. And salvation is by grace, received through faith, that is, believing in what God has said. Grace is not of works. Grace is God's prerogative while works is something an unbelieving man might boast of.
God's grace doen't stop at salvation. It also is concerned about the believer's walk:
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before prepared that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10).
The believer is not left not to men's schemes or devices. God has already prepared good works that we believers only need to walk in them.
The grace of God in salvation and walk is the subject of Ephesians under the then newly revealed dispensation given through Paul while a prisoner in Rome and which dispensation was continued on his last missionary journey after the Acts period up to his departure as mentioned in 2 Timothy.
This dispensation comes to us in the form of a trust that the faithful in Christ Jesus is to keep.