God's Gift

For our last Wednesday evening Bible study of the season, we were asked to bring one of our favorite Scriptures. I chose Ephesians 2:8-9: “It is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.”

My favorite Bible verses almost all center around salvation. I chose Ephesians 2:8-9 because, until I was 24 years old, I thought entrance to Heaven was based on being and doing good. It was something that we earned over a lifetime of trying to please God. Things like going to church, following the ten commandments, helping others, etc. earned me points in my heavenly bank account, and at the end of my life, God would add it up and decide if I had done enough to enter His Heaven.

But that’s not true. I cannot amass enough good deeds to enter Heaven. Salvation is a gift from God—a gift with a price that Jesus paid with His life, not the result of my efforts.

Whew! That’s good news!

So, where do good works fit in. In the very next verse Paul writes, “God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

The key phrase is “in our union with Christ Jesus”. Good deeds done on our own—without first accepting the gift of salvation that Jesus has given us—cannot save us. A life of good deeds follows our union with Christ Jesus; it doesn’t precede it.

God has plans for our lives. There are things He has prepared for us to do—and He prepares us to do them. But they don’t save us. Only Jesus can do that.

Be encouraged!

©2026 Pamela D. Williams