INTRO: In Ephesians 2, we have learned so far about the great death that passed upon all mankind and how God, by grace through faith delivers us from so great a death. And in verses 7-10, we learn why God paid such a horrific price to release man from this terrible death, and that is for His own glory. So Paul says in verse 7, "…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." God wants to demonstrate the exceeding riches of His grace by those very individuals that He delivers from this great death.
And so Paul says in verses 8-9, "For, by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." If God had chosen that man should be saved by works, if such a means could even justly be found, then He, God, would not get the glory. Man would be able to boast and get the glory for himself. So, when God saves man by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, man can claim no credit at all for his salvation, and God gets all the glory. And when we get to heaven, the glory that will be ascribed to God will be boundless, as Revelation 4-5 indicate. |
