Not of Works

Ephesians 2:8,9  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.

As we have previously said, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." As we have also previously said, "Salvation is a result of our faith." For by grace are ye saved! That means there is no act we do that brings about salvation. Salvation takes place because of the condition of the heart to believe; through faith. Today I would like to make a important clarification in the way some people interpret these verses. The part I want to draw attention to is the phrase: it is the gift of God. What is the gift of God? Some Bible expositors teach that the "it" is faith. They say that faith is the gift of God. This is not the proper diagramming of this sentence. That is a wrong interpretation of this verse. That wrong interpretation then is used as a pretext for erroneous teaching! Here is the erroneous teaching: God elects certain individuals and gives them the gift of faith in order that they might believe. These expositors teach that a person can only be saved if God gifts them with the faith to believe. This teaching is an attempt to make salvation ALL by God and man having absolutely no part in it. Now the proper interpretation of the "it" is that the gift of God is being saved by grace! Salvation is the gift of God! Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Faith is NOT a gift, salvation IS! Every single unregenerate person has faith. Faith alone does not save! Did you hear me?  It is where you put your faith that saves! Many people have genuine sincere faith but if that faith is not in the right thing it is useless. Faith is simply the decision to believe in what you can not see. All over the world people have faith in something! Until that faith is placed in the right source it does not become eternally effective. Some people have dead faith, some have vain faith and others have misplaced faith. Faith itself is not a gift from God. Every person has been born with the ability to exercise faith so if faith was the gift then you would have to say every person has the gift of God. With that being said if we put the faith that we do have in the right source then we will receive the gift of God, which is eternal life or salvation. Saving Faith is faith put in the right source; Jesus Christ! Faith is not the gift from God in this verse but being saved by grace, and that not of yourselves IS! Faith in Christ produces salvation. Salvation does not produce faith. We are saved apart from works. Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; I am a sinner saved by grace as a result of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is not an act or work, it's a decision of the mind and heart. It's impossible to have grace and work involved in our salvation.  Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Remember my friend it's Not of Works!