Ephesians 2:8—“… and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”

 

For by grace are ye 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).

 

ARMINIAN/COMMON GRACE ARGUMENT:

Arminians often argue that in Ephesians 2:8-9, “faith” is not part of the “gift” but rather simply the “grace” mentioned at the start of the text—a grace that merely enables the person to make a freewill choice for Christ: a grace that gives the power of freewill to the sinner, but which doesn’t actually save him.

 

 

(I)

 

Rev. Ronald Van Overloop

 

[Source: The Standard Bearer, vol. 79, no. 1 (Oct. 1, 2002), p. 4]

 

Many are the discussions whether the antecedent to “that” is “faith” or “salvation by grace through faith.” Let it be understood beyond a shadow of any doubt that salvation by grace means that it is all of grace. If it is my believing which saves me, then I have saved myself. The inspired apostle says that it is not of himself. It is “not of yourselves” in any sense. We must never speak of our faith in any way of being of ourselves. Instead we must see faith to be a gift of God (Phil. 1:29). It is God who produces both the will to believe and the act of believing in every believer (Canons of Dordt, III/IV, 14). Faith is not the cause of salvation, grace is. Faith does not save us, Christ does. That anyone is a child of God is entirely the result of God’s work of grace. It cannot be anything else but God’s work, in light of what we are by nature, according to the first three verses of this chapter. And in light of what God does to save, according to verses 4-7, it has to be only the gift of God.

 

 

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(II)

 

More to come! (DV)