Servings Per Verse: Unknown
ESV:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
*ETS:
Salvation is a gift of God, offered by the grace of God, which must be accepted by faith in Christ. Only the works of Christ in securing our salvation are worthy of praise. The works of man, which usually result in self-confident boasting, are totally worthless in the process of salvation.
*DTFTD:
A rich young ruler once asked Jesus, "What must I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). In response Jesus told the young ruler to obey the commandments of God (Mark 10:19). The ruler boasted, "I have kept the law from my youth" (Mark 10:20). Jesus appreciated the young ruler's devotion, but after giving him one instruction his glee turned to gloom. Jesus said, "Go, sell all that you have, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me" (Mark 10:21). The Bible tells us the young ruler went away sad, for he had great possessions (Mark 10:22). The story of the young ruler is a reminder that mankind wants to do something to be saved. In all religions outside of Christianity, works plays a very important part of salvation. Yet Christianity is not a religion of man, and it is not about works of mankind. Actually the commandments of God recorded in the Old Testament were given to prove the inability of the flesh to live holy. The young ruler was tested in many areas of the law with one simple instruction. The young ruler's failure, and Jesus' commentary on the matter, caused the disciples to ask, "who can be saved?" (Mark 10:26). Jesus responded, "With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible"(Mark 10:27). The bottom line is that no one is capable working their way to salvation. If someone, (other than Christ), could do the deeds of the law without fail, pride and boasting would result, proving the impurity and corruption of the heart. Our hearts are not pure, therefore our deeds are unacceptable. God's response to our inability was to provide salvation as a gift made available through Christ. Faith is the only part required of us, we must repent of sin and trust in Christ. However, even in the requirement of repentance and faith God's grace must provide aid.
*EDS:
"No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from his hand. Till he returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand" ("In Christ Alone" by Keith Getty and Stewart Townend).
INGREDIENTS: An explanation of salvation. Word Study: "this is not your own doing" MacArthur says, ". . . 'this' refers to the entire previous statement of salvation, not only the grace but the faith. Although men are required to believe for salvation, even that faith is part of the gift of God which saves and cannot exercised by one's own power" (MacArthur Study Bible).
*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.
