Is Faith a Gift of God? Ephesians 2:8–10, Part 1

Summary

This session focuses on Ephesians 2:8-10, discussing salvation by grace through faith as a gift from God. The speaker explores whether faith is something we generate or if it is a divine gift, highlighting how faith, grace, and salvation work together to eliminate human boasting. Four arguments are presented to affirm that faith is a gift from God, supported by Paul's writings. The session emphasizes the humility required in acknowledging God's role in salvation, affirming that even faith is part of God's gracious work in saving us.

Takeaways

• 📜 The focus is on Ephesians 2:8-10, exploring salvation through grace and faith.
• 🙏 Salvation is by grace through faith, and it is not from ourselves but a gift from God.
• ⚖️ Paul emphasizes that boasting is excluded because salvation is designed to prevent self-glorification.
• 🎁 Faith, as well as grace, is a gift from God and not something we create out of our own free will.
• 🧠 The pronouns in the Greek text suggest that the entire process of salvation (grace, faith, and being saved) is not from us but from God.
• 💀 We were spiritually dead, and dead people cannot create faith; faith must be a gift from God.
• 📖 Paul's theology often highlights the distinction between faith and works, with salvation coming through faith, not works.
• 🤔 The extra insertion of 'this is not from you' emphasizes that faith itself is not human-created but divinely given.
• 🛡️ Faith excludes boasting because it not only looks away from self but is also a divine gift.
• 📚 Other biblical passages, such as Philippians 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 1:30, support the idea that faith is granted by God, reinforcing Paul's message in Ephesians.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the session based on Ephesians 2:8-10?

The session focuses on understanding the relationship between grace, faith, and salvation in Ephesians 2:8-10, particularly how salvation is a gift from God, not from works, so that no one can boast.

Why does the speaker emphasize the phrase 'not from you' in the passage?

The speaker emphasizes 'not from you' to stress that faith and salvation are not human creations or achievements but are gifts from God, removing any grounds for boasting.

How does the speaker interpret the role of faith in the process of salvation?

The speaker argues that faith is not something humans generate from their own free will but is a gift from God, which plays an instrumental role in salvation.

What does the speaker mean by saying 'dead people don't create their own faith'?

The speaker means that since humans are spiritually dead in their sins, they cannot create faith on their own. Faith must be a gift from God, who makes spiritually dead people alive.

Why does the speaker believe Paul added the phrase 'this is not from you, it is the gift of God'?

The speaker suggests Paul added this phrase to counter any belief that humans contribute to their own salvation through their ability to generate faith. It reinforces that even faith is a divine gift, not of human origin.

What theological argument does the speaker present against the idea that faith is self-generated?

The speaker argues that if faith were self-generated, it would allow for human boasting. However, Paul's insertion of 'this is not from you' directly refutes that idea, making it clear that faith is also a gift from God, eliminating any potential for boasting.

How does the speaker connect Philippians 1:29 to the idea that faith is a gift from God?

Philippians 1:29 states that it has been 'granted' to believers to have faith, which the speaker interprets as evidence that faith is a gift from God, not something humans create on their own.

What is the connection between boasting and faith, according to the speaker?

The speaker believes Paul is concerned with eliminating human boasting in salvation. Since faith itself is a gift from God, there is no room for anyone to boast about their own role in salvation.

How does the speaker interpret 1 Corinthians 1:30 in relation to Ephesians 2:8-10?

The speaker interprets 1 Corinthians 1:30 as supporting the idea that all aspects of salvation, including being in Christ and having faith, come from God. This reinforces the message in Ephesians that salvation is entirely God’s work, not ours.

What final exhortation does the speaker give at the end of the session?

The speaker exhorts the listeners to humble themselves and recognize that all glory for their salvation, including the gift of faith, belongs to God. He warns against robbing God of His glory by attributing any part of salvation to human effort.